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

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

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.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSocial Psychology in Action : Evidence-Based Interventions from Theory to Practice
EditorsKai Sassenberg, Michael L. W. Vliek
Number of pages19
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer Nature
Publication date01.01.2019
Pages3-21
ISBN (print)978-3-030-13787-8
ISBN (electronic)978-3-030-13788-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Executive function and Language Learning
  2. Proxies
  3. An Adaptive and Optimized Switching Observer for Sensorless Control of an Electromagnetic Valve Actuator in Camless Internal Combustion Engines
  4. Parametric finite element model and mechanical characterisation of electrospun materials for biomedical applications
  5. Web-scale extension of RDF knowledge bases from templated websites
  6. Kalman Filter for Predictive Maintenance and Anomaly Detection
  7. Scale-dependent diversity patterns affect spider assemblages of two contrasting forest ecosystems
  8. The Creation of the Concept through the Interaction of Philosophy with Science and Art
  9. Understanding and Supporting Management Decision-Making
  10. Object-Oriented Construction Handbook
  11. A geometric approach for the design and control of an electromagnetic actuator to optimize its dynamic performance
  12. Effect of thermo-mechanical conditions during constrained friction processing on the particle refinement of AM50 Mg-alloy phases
  13. Bridging the Gap: Generating a Comprehensive Biomedical Knowledge Graph Question Answering Dataset
  14. Modelling biodegradability based on OECD 301D data for the design of mineralising ionic liquids
  15. Reading Comprehension as Embodied Action: Exploratory Findings on Nonlinear Eye Movement Dynamics and Comprehension of Scientific Texts
  16. Performance of methods to select landscape metrics for modelling species richness
  17. Determination of the construction and the material identity values of outside building components with the help of in-situ measuring procedures and FEM-simulation calculations
  18. DISKNET – A Platform for the Systematic Accumulation of Knowledge in IS Research
  19. A Sensitive Microsystem as Biosensor for Cell Growth Monitoring and Antibiotic Testing
  20. Experimental investigation of the fluid-structure interaction during deep drawing of fiber metal laminates in the in-situ hybridization process
  21. The Role of Output Vocabulary in T2T LMs for SPARQL Semantic Parsing
  22. Late developers and the inequity of "equitable utilization" and the harm of "do no harm"
  23. The impact of goal focus, task type and group size on synchronous net-based collaborative learning discourses
  24. Differences in adjustment flexibility between regular and temporary agency work
  25. Mechanical characterization of as-cast AA7075/6060 and CuSn6/Cu99.5 compounds using an experimental and numerical push-out test
  26. Integrating errors into the training process
  27. Dichotomy or continuum? A global review of the interaction between autonomous and planned adaptations
  28. Lost-customers approximation of semi-open queueing networks with backordering
  29. Quality System Development at the University of Graz
  30. Collaborative benchmarking of functional-structural root architecture models