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) Omume nke ụlọ ọrụ metụtara ndị ọrụ nọ n'ọnwa gara aga (ee / Mba)

2) Omume nke ụlọ ọrụ metụtara ndị ọrụ nọ n'ọnwa gara aga (eziokwu na%)

3) Atughi egwu

4) Nnukwu nsogbu chere obodo m

5) Olee àgwà na ikike na-eme ezi ndị nduzi na-eji mgbe ha na-eme ihe ọma?

6) Google. Ihe ndị na-emetụta otu ndị otu

7) Isi ihe ndị na-achọ ọrụ

8) Kedu ihe na-eme onye isi nnukwu onye ndu?

9) Gịnị na-eme ka ndị mmadụ nwee ihe ịga nke ọma n'ọrụ?

10) Ready dịla njikere ịnata obere ụgwọ ịrụ ọrụ?

11) Ọdịbi dị adị?

12) Ọhụrụ na Ọrụ

13) Ọhụrụ na ndụ

14) Na-akpata afọ ojuju

15) Ihe kpatara ndị mmadụ ji hapụ (site na Anna dị mkpa)

16) Ntukwasi obi (#WVS)

17) Nnyocha nyocha Oxford

18) Ime Ihe Oche

19) Ebee ka ị ga-eme gị na-atọ ụtọ?

20) Kedu ihe ị ga - eme n'izu a iji lekọta ahụike gị?

21) M na-eche banyere m gara aga, ugbu a ma ọ bụ ọdịnihu

22) Ebere

23) Ọgụgụ isi na njedebe nke mmepe

24) Gịnị mere ndị mmadụ ji ewe iwe?

25) Ime ihe dị iche na iji wuo ntụkwasị obi onwe ya (IFD nonsbach)

26) Xing.com omenala

27) Patrick Lengsioni's "Dysfuntions nke otu"

28) Mmetụta ọmịiko bụ ...

29) Gịnị dị mkpa maka ya na ndị ọkachamara n'ịhọrọ ọrụ?

30) Ihe mere ndị mmadụ ji emegide mgbanwe (site na Siobhán Mchale)

31) Kedu ka ị ga - esi chịkwaa obi gị? (site na mulhalla m.a.)

32) 21 nkà na-akwụ gị ụgwọ ruo mgbe ebighi ebi (nke Jeremaịa Teo / 赵汉昇)

33) Ezigbo nnwere onwe bụ ...

34) 12 Wayzọ iji wuo ntụkwasị obi na ndị ọzọ (site na Justin Wright)

35) Njirimara nke onye na-arụ ọrụ (nke Talent Magent)

36) Igodo 10 iji kpalie ndị otu gị


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.

Atughi egwu

Country
Language
-
Mail
Realicate
Critical uru nke mmekọrịta ọnụọgụ
Ngalaba nkịtị, site na William Stel r = 0.0353
Ngalaba nkịtị, site na William Stel r = 0.0353
Ntinye na-abụghị ọrụ, site na Spearman r = 0.0014
NkesaNa-abụghị
nkịtị
Nke kwesiriNa-abụghị
nkịtị
Nke kwesiriNke kwesiriNke kwesiriNke kwesiriNke kwesiri
Ajụjụ niile
Ajụjụ niile
Egwu m kachasị
Egwu m kachasị
Answer 1-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0297
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0298
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0106
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0970
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0325
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0019
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1558
Answer 2-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0188
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0076
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0360
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0711
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0387
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0082
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1011
Answer 3-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0026
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0170
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0443
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0458
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0547
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0808
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0270
Answer 4-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0332
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0285
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0006
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0155
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0276
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0105
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0917
Answer 5-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0122
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.1193
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0095
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0721
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0057
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0083
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1687
Answer 6-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0044
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0005
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0582
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0004
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0210
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0830
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0418
Answer 7-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0242
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0368
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0521
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0234
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0403
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0568
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0597
Answer 8-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0707
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0781
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0244
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0140
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0303
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0137
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1334
Answer 9-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0564
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.1531
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0127
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0769
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0136
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0495
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1752
Answer 10-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0711
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0700
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0127
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0246
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0363
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0156
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1273
Answer 11-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0542
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0488
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0086
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0078
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0162
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0315
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1248
Answer 12-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0281
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0929
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0325
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0361
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0276
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0365
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1482
Answer 13-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0643
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0916
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0418
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0237
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0425
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0239
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1558
Answer 14-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0697
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.1017
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0149
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0062
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0087
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0002
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1161
Answer 15-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0603
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.1299
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0379
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0163
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0091
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0164
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.1204
Answer 16-
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0691
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0221
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0305
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0515
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0750
Na-adịghị ike mma
0.0187
Na-adịghị ike na-adịghị mma
-0.0696


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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
Onye nwe ngwaahịa Saas Passe Sdtest®

Valerii ruru eru dị ka onye ọkà mmụta sayensị na-elekọta mmadụ na 1993 ma tinyekwara ihe ọmụma ya na njikwa ọrụ.
Valerii nwetara ogo nke nna ukwu na oru ngo na ntozu nke 2013. N'oge atumatu nke onye nwe ya (GPM deutsche geslellchaft fü.) ma gbaa ọsọ.
Valerii mere nnwale di iche di iche di iche di iche ma jiri ihe omuma ya na ahụmịhe ya mee ihe iji gbanwee ụdị SDTEC dị ugbu a.
Valerii bụ onye dere nyocha nke Vs.UC.A. Echiche na-eji ike gburugburu na ọnụ ọgụgụ mgbakọ na mwepụ na akparamaagwa, ihe karịrị ntuli abụọ mba ofesi.
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