AO3 - Evaluation

• Why is non-observable behaviour a criticism of introspection?


  Wundt's approach required participants to report on their conscious experiences which are unobservable constructs. For example, processes like memory and perception are impossible to observe. This matters because wundt's approach lacks reliabilty as his results have not been reproduced by other researchers.
• Why is lack of accuracy a criticism of introspection?


  Nisbett and Wilson claim that we have little knowledge of what causes or contributes to our behaviours and beliefs. They found that participants were unaware of the different factors that had been influential in their choice of consumer items, suggesting that we are unable to observe our own thoughts and feelings. This suggests that some of our behaviours and attitudes exists outside of conscious awareness and that intrsospection would not cover them
• Why is contemporary research a strength of introspection?


  Researchers used introspection as a way of measuring teenagers happiness. They found that when teenagers engaged in a challenging task, they were more upset, in comparison to an everyday task. This suggests that introspection has some relevance in contemporary research and is still a useful tool for measuring certain behaviours.
• Why are scientific methods a strength in introspection


  It took a scientific approach to investigating the mind and inspired further methods to be developed. This is a strength because the scientific method allows us to develop test theories and methods and to refine them if needed. Even though introspection was limited, it allowed new methods to be developed, such as brain imaging which is a more reliable and valid method of investigating thought processes in the brain and where they are located. It is a strength as it has allowed more effective and reliable methods to be developed over time.