A Case for Psychology as a Human Science

Abstract

The disciples of Psychology and Sociology and the social sciences more generally, are and have been for some time, in a state of flux, especially with regard to research methods.The tension, in the view if many, is between the approaches to research in terms of positivist verses naturalist.1,2 This tension has to a considerable degree remains unsolved and has been exacerbated by the postmodernist's discourse as exemplified in the works of Foucault 3 and Lyotard 4 (see Rosenberg, 2003 for an overview of this discourse).This short commentary cannot address all of these issues.Instead, it will 5 provide an introduction to the history of 19th century and early 20th century social sciences focusing on key differences and similarities in research methods and their philosophic underpinning.6 This will be followed by a short statement regarding the nature of mid 20th century evolution of the social sciences, touching on both the philosophical and practical aspects of research.7 This essay will end with an overview of some psychology research conducted within the parameters of the Human sciences.

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