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Introduction

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Abstract

This chapter briefly introduces the argument of the book, namely, that psychological science since its inception was encumbered with a particular image of science. This image is largely mythic because it clouds and skews some of the beliefs we have of what science is and should be. From the perspective of psychology, which is largely invested empirically in its science with associated measurement and experimental methods, the belief that it is positivist comes relatively easy, and against this image, postmodern views such as social constructionism, raised the alarm and battled. Tensions and dichotomies on the levels of applicative practice, methodology and metatheory were the result. It is argued that realism could dissolve these polarities and provide a necessary corrective to the mythic image of science.

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Maree, D.J.F. (2020). Introduction. In: Realism and Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45143-1_1

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