In response to tipsters like Jim Clark and Allen Esterson who question my reliance on pontificating without providing references and hard data,I am pleased to introduce the Michael Sylvester Unobstrusive Observational Methods(MSUOM). Unobstrusive methods are usually employed to reduce any kind of suspiciousness that sublects are being observed which could influence the outcomes of the experiment.These tools are usually employed in both animal and human ethological research.The MSUOM is just another level of an unobstrusive method. I was asked to explain my basis for classifying psychological theories into major and minor. Well I used my knowledge of observations of text books such as the number of pages devoted to a particular theorist.Normally Freud,Skinner,Piaget have more text pages devoted to them than the functionalists, and Vigotsky.The term major or minor says nothing about whether those theorists have valid ideas.The term major or minor has more to do with a prevailing historical precedence.For example Fritz Perls takes precedence over Hefferline.Personally of all the neo-Freudians,Erickson has more pages in Dev psychology than Adler and Horney may get just an insert on a page. American Psychology has a behavuoristic bias so expect more writings from this perspective. I do not agree with Jim on field observations and testimonials. Statistics is also applicable to these methods in terms of reliability,but the question of validity is a different story. Hope this helps. Michael Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- To make changes to your subscription contact:
Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
