Investigation and its discontents: Some constraints on progress in psychological research.

This article examines a number of prom- inent trends in the conduct of psychological research and considers how they may limit progress in our field. Failure to appreciate important differences in tempera- ment among researchers, as well as differences. in the particular talents researchers bring to their work, has prevented the development in psychology of a vigorous tradition of fruitful theoretical inquiry. Misplaced emphasis on quantitative productivity, a problem for all disciplines, is shown to have particularly unfortu- nate results in psychology. Problems associated with the distorting effects of seeking grant support are shown to interact with the first two difficulties. Finally, the distorting effects of certain kinds of experimental studies are discussed, together with their implications for progress in this field.