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Ethnography vs. zombie methodologies: What anthropology can teach psychology about nonreproducibility.

Authors :
Downey, Greg
Source :
American Ethnologist. Feb2024, Vol. 51 Issue 1, p164-170. 7p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Beginning in 2011, public scandals and high‐visibility critiques of research methods in psychology fed a broader "replication crisis": foundational experiments could not be replicated, and statistical methods in social psychology demonstrated vulnerability to fraud and manipulation. Even well‐intended researchers following accepted psychological protocols—zombie methodologies—could unintentionally produce false positives. In response, social psychologists have called for greater sensitivity to cultural diversity, a deeper consideration of social context, and more methodological reflection. The contrast with anthropology is dramatic, highlighting some of the strengths of our field: methodological versatility, appreciation of human variability, theoretical creativity, and a solid foundation for synthetic, interdisciplinary collaboration grounded in our tradition of holism. The human sciences are an important audience for anthropologists, as the example of cognitive science shows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00940496
Volume :
51
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
American Ethnologist
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
175197083
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/amet.13235