Laurence D. Smith
Contact
My research has addressed epistemological issues in the history of psychology. Historians of science have turned away from the study of theories toward examination of the day-to-day practices by which scientists construct knowledge. I’ve focused on how psychologists, both today and in the past, have used “inscription devices” – graphs, tables, and diagrams – in reasoning about data, discovering novel phenomena, and communicating their findings. Historical comparisons of psychologists’ practices with those of other scientists reveal striking differences in how scientists from various disciplines go about their work, and these differences suggest possibilities for improving psychological methods. In regard to the history of psychology, I have also published articles and books on the history of behaviorism and its philosophy of science.
Education
M.A., History and Philosophy of Science (1975), Indiana University
M.A., Experimental Psychology (1979), University of New Hampshire
Ph.D., History of Psychology (1982), University of New Hampshire
