Good Science : Psychological Inquiry as Everyday Moral Practice

This is a guide to help scholars conduct, teach, and study psychological research in a way that takes into account the moral foundations of theory and practice in psychological inquiry. The book covers material relevant to research theory, methods, and ethics, and includes extensive instructional resources.

Good Science is an account of psychological research emphasizing the moral foundations of inquiry. This volume brings together existing disciplinary critiques of scientism, objectivism, and instrumentalism, and then discusses how these contribute to institutionalized privilege and to less morally responsive research practices. The author draws on historical, critical, feminist, and science studies traditions to provide an alternative account of psychological science and to highlight the irreducibly moral foundations of everyday scientific practice. This work outlines a theoretical framework for thinking about and practicing psychology in ways that center moral responsibility, collective commitment, and justice. The book then applies this framework, describing psychological research practices in terms of the their moral dilemmas. Also included are materials meant to aid in methods instruction and mentoring.