Realism, Empiricism and Social Constructionism

Abstract

This article attempts to characterize scientific realism as a viable alternative metatheory for psychological science that is superior to traditional empiricism. It is suggested that scientific realism provides a richer conception of psychological theory than traditional empiricism, and enables the theoretical psychologist to acknowledge the respects in which human actions and psychological states may be said to be social in nature, without abandoning the traditional scientific virtues of linguistic and epistemological objectivity that have been rejected by social constructionist and relativist theorists.