What Makes for a Good Theory? How to Evaluate a Theory Using the Strength Model of Self-Control as an Example

Publikation: Beiträge in SammelwerkenKapitelbegutachtet

Authors

This chapter adopts a metascientific perspective and discusses two basic questions: (1) What are criteria for evaluating the quality of a psychological theory? (2) What are criteria for evaluating the empirical evidence related to a theory? The chapter discusses these criteria on a general level and by examining one specific theory and accompanying empirical work as an illustrative example—the Strength Model of Self-Control by Baumeister and colleagues (Baumeister and Heatherton Psychol Inq 7:1–15, 1996; Baumeister and Vohs Adv Exp Soc Psychol 54:67–127, 2016). Although necessarily incomplete, the discussed criteria for the quality of theorizing and empiricism can be applied to many theories in (social) psychological research. They are therefore relevant not only to basic research, but also to any applied work that is grounded in theory.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
TitelSocial Psychology in Action : Evidence-Based Interventions from Theory to Practice
HerausgeberKai Sassenberg, Michael L. W. Vliek
Anzahl der Seiten19
ErscheinungsortCham
VerlagSpringer Nature AG
Erscheinungsdatum01.01.2019
Seiten3-21
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-13787-8
ISBN (elektronisch)978-3-030-13788-5
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.01.2019

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Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.

    Fachgebiete

  • Wirtschaftspsychologie - Ego depletion, Meta science, Self-control, Strength Model, Theory evaluation

DOI