Discursive construction of the relationship between theory and practice in psychology

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Abstract
Preferences for two different discursive repertoires for explicating the relationship between theory and practice in psychology, each congruent with either a postmodern or logical empiricist epistemology, were uncovered through analyses of Q sorts completed by 51 practising psychologists. A subset of 12 of the informants also completed repertory grids requiring judgements of their colleagues' style of practice, and a “What is science?” questionnaire. An association was found between informants' discursive preferences and fellow practitioners' perception of their style of practice. The findings were interpreted as consistent with a progressive drift away from a preference for forms of discourse reflecting the scientist‐practitioner ideal associated with experience as a practitioner. Some possible implications of these findings are raised.