Mathematical Psychology

This project investigates mathematical psychology's historical and philosophical foundations to clarify its distinguishing characteristics and relationships to adjacent fields. Through gathering primary sources, histories, and interviews with researchers, author Prof. Colin Allen - University of Pittsburgh [1, 2, 3] and his students  Osman Attah, Brendan Fleig-Goldstein, Mara McGuire, and Dzintra Ullis have identified three central questions: 

  1. What makes the use of mathematics in mathematical psychology reasonably effective, in contrast to other sciences like physics-inspired mathematical biology or symbolic cognitive science? 
  2. How does the mathematical approach in mathematical psychology differ from other branches of psychology, like psychophysics and psychometrics? 
  3. What is the appropriate relationship of mathematical psychology to cognitive science, given diverging perspectives on aligning with this field? 

Preliminary findings emphasize data-driven modeling, skepticism of cognitive science alignments, and early reliance on computation. They will further probe the interplay with cognitive neuroscience and contrast rational-analysis approaches. By elucidating the motivating perspectives and objectives of different eras in mathematical psychology's development, they aim to understand its past and inform constructive dialogue on its philosophical foundations and future directions. This project intends to provide a conceptual roadmap for the field through integrated history and philosophy of science.



The Project: Integrating History and Philosophy of Mathematical Psychology



This project aims to integrate historical and philosophical perspectives to elucidate the foundations of mathematical psychology. As Norwood Hanson stated, history without philosophy is blind, while philosophy without history is empty. The goal is to find a middle ground between the contextual focus of history and the conceptual focus of philosophy.


The team acknowledges that all historical accounts are imperfect, but some can provide valuable insights. The history of mathematical psychology is difficult to tell without centering on the influential Stanford group. Tracing academic lineages and key events includes part of the picture, but more context is needed to fully understand the field's development.


The project draws on diverse sources, including research interviews, retrospective articles, formal histories, and online materials. More interviews and research will further flesh out the historical and philosophical foundations. While incomplete, the current analysis aims to identify important themes, contrasts, and questions that shaped mathematical psychology's evolution. Ultimately, the goal is an integrated historical and conceptual roadmap to inform contemporary perspectives on the field's identity and future directions.



The Rise of Mathematical Psychology



The history of efforts to mathematize psychology traces back to the quantitative imperative stemming from the Galilean scientific revolution. This imprinted the notion that proper science requires mathematics, leading to "physics envy" in other disciplines like psychology.


Many early psychologists argued psychology needed to become mathematical to be scientific. However, mathematizing psychology faced complications absent in the physical sciences. Objects in psychology were not readily present as quantifiable, provoking heated debates on whether psychometric and psychophysical measurements were meaningful.


Nonetheless, the desire to develop mathematical psychology persisted. Different approaches grappled with determining the appropriate role of mathematics in relation to psychological experiments and data. For example, Herbart favored starting with mathematics to ensure accuracy, while Fechner insisted experiments must come first to ground mathematics.


Tensions remain between data-driven versus theory-driven mathematization of psychology. Contemporary perspectives range from psychometric and psychophysical stances that foreground data to measurement-theoretical and computational approaches that emphasize formal models.


Elucidating how psychologists negotiated to apply mathematical methods to an apparently resistant subject matter helps reveal the evolving role and place of mathematics in psychology. This historical interplay shaped the emergence of mathematical psychology as a field.



The Distinctive Mathematical Approach of Mathematical Psychology



What sets mathematical psychology apart from other branches of psychology in its use of mathematics?


Several key aspects stand out:

  1. Advocating quantitative methods broadly. Mathematical psychology emerged partly to push psychology to embrace quantitative modeling and mathematics beyond basic statistics.
  2. Drawing from diverse mathematical tools. With greater training in mathematics, mathematical psychologists utilize more advanced and varied mathematical techniques like topology and differential geometry.
  3. Linking models and experiments. Mathematical psychologists emphasize tightly connecting experimental design and statistical analysis, with experiments created to test specific models.
  4. Favoring theoretical models. Mathematical psychology incorporates "pure" mathematical results and prefers analytic, hand-fitted models over data-driven computer models.
  5. Seeking general, cumulative theory. Unlike just describing data, mathematical psychology aspires to abstract, general theory supported across experiments, cumulative progress in models, and mathematical insight into psychological mechanisms.


So while not unique to mathematical psychology, these key elements help characterize how its use of mathematics diverges from adjacent fields like psychophysics and psychometrics. Mathematical psychology carved out an identity embracing quantitative methods but also theoretical depth and broad generalization.



Situating Mathematical Psychology Relative to Cognitive Science



What is the appropriate perspective on mathematical psychology's relationship to cognitive psychology and cognitive science? While connected historically and conceptually, essential distinctions exist.


Mathematical psychology draws from diverse disciplines that are also influential in cognitive science, like computer science, psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience. However, mathematical psychology appears more skeptical of alignments with cognitive science.


For example, cognitive science prominently adopted the computer as a model of the human mind, while mathematical psychology focused more narrowly on computers as modeling tools.


Additionally, mathematical psychology seems to take a more critical stance towards purely simulation-based modeling in cognitive science, instead emphasizing iterative modeling tightly linked to experimentation.


Overall, mathematical psychology exhibits significant overlap with cognitive science but strongly asserts its distinct mathematical orientation and modeling perspectives. Elucidating this complex relationship remains an ongoing project, but preliminary analysis suggests mathematical psychology intentionally diverged from cognitive science in its formative development.


This establishes mathematical psychology's separate identity while retaining connections to adjacent disciplines at the intersection of mathematics, psychology, and computation.



Looking Ahead: Open Questions and Future Research



This historical and conceptual analysis of mathematical psychology's foundations has illuminated key themes, contrasts, and questions that shaped the field's development. Further research can build on these preliminary findings.

Additional work is needed to flesh out the fuller intellectual, social, and political context driving the evolution of mathematical psychology. Examining the influences and reactions of key figures will provide a richer picture.

Ongoing investigation can probe whether the identified tensions and contrasts represent historical artifacts or still animate contemporary debates. Do mathematical psychologists today grapple with similar questions on the role of mathematics and modeling?

Further analysis should also elucidate the nature of the purported bidirectional relationship between modeling and experimentation in mathematical psychology. As well, clarifying the diversity of perspectives on goals like generality, abstraction, and cumulative theory-building would be valuable.

Finally, this research aims to spur discussion on philosophical issues such as realism, pluralism, and progress in mathematical psychology models. Is the accuracy and truth value of models an important consideration or mainly beside the point? And where is the field headed - towards greater verisimilitude or an indefinite balancing of complexity and abstraction?

By spurring reflection on this conceptual foundation, this historical and integrative analysis hopes to provide a roadmap to inform constructive dialogue on mathematical psychology's identity and future trajectory.


The SDTEST® 



The SDTEST® is a simple and fun tool to uncover our unique motivational values that use mathematical psychology of varying complexity.



The SDTEST® helps us better understand ourselves and others on this lifelong path of self-discovery.


Here are reports of polls which SDTEST® makes:


1) Radnje preduzeća u odnosu na osoblje u poslednjem mesecu (da / ne)

2) Radnje preduzeća u odnosu na osoblje u poslednjem mesecu (činjenica u%)

3) Strahovi

4) Najveći problemi s kojima se suočava moja zemlja

5) Koje kvalitete i sposobnosti koriste dobri lideri kada izgradite uspješne timove?

6) Google. Čimbenici koji utječu na timušku efikasnost

7) Glavni prioriteti tražitelja posla

8) Šta šefe čini sjajnim vođom?

9) Šta ljudi čini uspješnim na poslu?

10) Jeste li spremni dobiti manje plaćanja za rad na daljinu?

11) Da li ageizam postoji?

12) Ageizam u karijeri

13) Ageizam u životu

14) Uzroci ageizma

15) Razlozi zbog kojih se ljudi odustaju (od strane Ane Vital)

16) Povjerenje (#WVS)

17) Anketa o sreći Oxford

18) Psihološka blagostanja

19) Gdje bi bila vaša sljedeća najuzbudljivija prilika?

20) Šta ćete raditi ove sedmice da biste pazili na vaše mentalno zdravlje?

21) Živim razmišljajući o svojoj prošlosti, sadašnjosti ili budućnosti

22) Meritokracija

23) Umjetna inteligencija i kraj civilizacije

24) Zašto ljudi oduzimaju?

25) Rodna razlika u izgradnji samopouzdanja (IFD Allensbach)

26) Xing.com Procjena kulture

27) Patrick Lencioni's "Pet disfunkcije tima"

28) Empatija je ...

29) Šta je neophodno za IT stručnjake u odabiru ponude za posao?

30) Zašto se ljudi odupiruju promjenama (od strane Siobhán Mchale)

31) Kako regulišete svoje emocije? (Autor NAWAL MUSTAFA M.A.)

32) 21 vještine koje vam plaćaju zauvijek (od Jeremiah Teo / 赵汉昇)

33) Prava sloboda je ...

34) 12 načina za izgradnju povjerenja sa drugima (Justin Wright)

35) Karakteristike talentovanog zaposlenika (od strane Instituta za upravljanje talentima)

36) 10 tipki za motiviranje vašeg tima


Below you can read an abridged version of the results of our VUCA poll “Fears“. The full version of the results is available for free in the FAQ section after login or registration.

Strahovi

zemlja
jezik
-
Mail
Preračunati
Kritične vrijednosti koeficijenta korelacije
Normalna distribucija, William Sealy Gosset (student) r = 0.0353
Normalna distribucija, William Sealy Gosset (student) r = 0.0353
Non Normalna distribucija, od Spearman r = 0.0014
DistribucijaNe
normalno
NormalanNe
normalno
NormalanNormalanNormalanNormalanNormalan
Sva pitanja
Sva pitanja
Moj najveći strah je
Moj najveći strah je
Answer 1-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0297
Slabo pozitivno
0.0298
Slab negativan
-0.0106
Slabo pozitivno
0.0970
Slabo pozitivno
0.0325
Slab negativan
-0.0019
Slab negativan
-0.1558
Answer 2-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0188
Slabo pozitivno
0.0076
Slab negativan
-0.0360
Slabo pozitivno
0.0711
Slabo pozitivno
0.0387
Slabo pozitivno
0.0082
Slab negativan
-0.1011
Answer 3-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0026
Slab negativan
-0.0170
Slab negativan
-0.0443
Slab negativan
-0.0458
Slabo pozitivno
0.0547
Slabo pozitivno
0.0808
Slab negativan
-0.0270
Answer 4-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0332
Slabo pozitivno
0.0285
Slab negativan
-0.0006
Slabo pozitivno
0.0155
Slabo pozitivno
0.0276
Slabo pozitivno
0.0105
Slab negativan
-0.0917
Answer 5-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0122
Slabo pozitivno
0.1193
Slabo pozitivno
0.0095
Slabo pozitivno
0.0721
Slabo pozitivno
0.0057
Slab negativan
-0.0083
Slab negativan
-0.1687
Answer 6-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0044
Slabo pozitivno
0.0005
Slab negativan
-0.0582
Slab negativan
-0.0004
Slabo pozitivno
0.0210
Slabo pozitivno
0.0830
Slab negativan
-0.0418
Answer 7-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0242
Slabo pozitivno
0.0368
Slab negativan
-0.0521
Slab negativan
-0.0234
Slabo pozitivno
0.0403
Slabo pozitivno
0.0568
Slab negativan
-0.0597
Answer 8-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0707
Slabo pozitivno
0.0781
Slab negativan
-0.0244
Slabo pozitivno
0.0140
Slabo pozitivno
0.0303
Slabo pozitivno
0.0137
Slab negativan
-0.1334
Answer 9-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0564
Slabo pozitivno
0.1531
Slabo pozitivno
0.0127
Slabo pozitivno
0.0769
Slab negativan
-0.0136
Slab negativan
-0.0495
Slab negativan
-0.1752
Answer 10-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0711
Slabo pozitivno
0.0700
Slab negativan
-0.0127
Slabo pozitivno
0.0246
Slabo pozitivno
0.0363
Slab negativan
-0.0156
Slab negativan
-0.1273
Answer 11-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0542
Slabo pozitivno
0.0488
Slabo pozitivno
0.0086
Slabo pozitivno
0.0078
Slabo pozitivno
0.0162
Slabo pozitivno
0.0315
Slab negativan
-0.1248
Answer 12-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0281
Slabo pozitivno
0.0929
Slab negativan
-0.0325
Slabo pozitivno
0.0361
Slabo pozitivno
0.0276
Slabo pozitivno
0.0365
Slab negativan
-0.1482
Answer 13-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0643
Slabo pozitivno
0.0916
Slab negativan
-0.0418
Slabo pozitivno
0.0237
Slabo pozitivno
0.0425
Slabo pozitivno
0.0239
Slab negativan
-0.1558
Answer 14-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0697
Slabo pozitivno
0.1017
Slabo pozitivno
0.0149
Slab negativan
-0.0062
Slab negativan
-0.0087
Slab negativan
-0.0002
Slab negativan
-0.1161
Answer 15-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0603
Slabo pozitivno
0.1299
Slab negativan
-0.0379
Slabo pozitivno
0.0163
Slab negativan
-0.0091
Slabo pozitivno
0.0164
Slab negativan
-0.1204
Answer 16-
Slabo pozitivno
0.0691
Slabo pozitivno
0.0221
Slab negativan
-0.0305
Slab negativan
-0.0515
Slabo pozitivno
0.0750
Slabo pozitivno
0.0187
Slab negativan
-0.0696


Izvoz u MS Excel
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Uredu

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[1] https://twitter.com/wileyprof
[2] https://colinallen.dnsalias.org
[3] https://philpeople.org/profiles/colin-allen

2023.10.13
Valerii Kosenko
Vlasnik proizvoda Saas Pet Project SDTEST®

Valerii je bio kvalificiran kao socijalni pedagogi psiholog 1993. godine i od tada je primijenio svoje znanje u upravljanju projektima.
Valerii je stekao magisterij i kvalifikaciju projekta i programskih menadžera u 2013. tokom svog master programa postao je upoznat sa projektnim mapama (GPM Deutsche Gesellschaft für projektmanagement e. V.) i spiralna dinamika.
Valerii je preuzeo razne testove spiralne dinamike i koristio svoje znanje i iskustvo kako bi prilagodili trenutnu verziju SDTEST-a.
Valerii je autor istraživanja neizvjesnosti V..c.a. Koncept koristeći spiralnu dinamiku i matematičku statistiku u psihologiji, više od 20 međunarodnih anketa.
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