A Garbage Can Model of the Psychological Research Process

Bibliographic Data

ID5084784
AuthorsJoanne Martins, Joanne Martin (Stanford University, corresponding author)
Year1981
Volume25
Issue2
Pages131-151
Publication date1981-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/000276428102500203
OpenAlexW2008406781
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited22

Journal articles and the more conventional methodological text-books present a rational model of the process of doing psycho-logical research. Consider the headings in a typical journal article: survey of literature, hypotheses, methods, results, and discussion. Many methodological textbooks structure the presentation of the research process in a similar fashion. For example, one text lists chapters on the selection and formulation of a research problem, research design, general problems in measurement, data collec-tion, analysis, and interpretation (Sellitz, Jahoda, Deutsch, and Cook, 1959). The steps in the research process, implied by the order of these journal headings and chapter titles, are labeled in this article as the rational model. In its simplest form, that model has four steps: (1) Formulate a theoretical problem; (2) Select appropriate research method(s), design and conduct study; (3) Analyze and interpret results; and (4) Use results to confirm/deny theory. Author’s Note: This article has grown out of discussions with Barry

Cognitive psychology · Garbage · Process (computing) · Process management · Programming language · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Educational and Psychological Assessments · Engineering · Psychological Testing and Assessment · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Representations and Identity

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