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Minimally Sufficient Research.

Christopher Peterson1

  • 1University of Michigan chrispet@umich.edu.

Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science
|July 10, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Psychology research benefits from simplicity. Researchers should prioritize straightforward designs and analyses, focusing on the research question rather than methodological complexity.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Research Methodology

Background:

  • The complexity of research designs and statistical analyses in psychology is often driven by researchers' capabilities rather than necessity.
  • Classic psychological studies demonstrate the power of simple, elegant research approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for a shift towards greater simplicity in psychological research.
  • To introduce and promote the concept of "minimally sufficient research" as an ideal.
  • To emphasize that research questions should guide methodological choices.

Main Methods:

  • Review of classic, simple studies in the field of psychology.
  • Conceptual analysis of research design and statistical practices.

Main Results:

  • Classic psychological studies are characterized by their remarkable simplicity.
  • The principle of "minimally sufficient research" offers a valuable framework for improving psychological inquiry.

Conclusions:

  • Psychological research would be enhanced by adopting simpler designs, procedures, and statistical analyses.
  • Methodological choices should be dictated by the research questions being investigated, not by the researcher's technical abilities.