The Challenges and Opportunities of Introspection in Psychology: Theory and Method

  • 9,085

    Total downloads

  • 111k

    Total views and downloads

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Psychology is often described as the study of behavior and experience. Behavior refers to outer activities accessible to third-person observation, while experience refers to inner (mental) processes of a more private character. While psychologists have developed an ingenuous methodological repertoire to research human behavior via third-person methods, the toolbox for dealing with the experiential domain and its ultimate first-person character – the so-called qualia component – is underdeveloped. The first-person character of qualia experience can only be captured through first-person research, but psychology has a turbulent relationship to the first-person science of introspection – and quite understandably so because a naïve and untrained form of introspection is prone to a host of confounds.

But just as third-person experimentation has been cultivated and developed into a rigorous and systematic method, introspection can also be cultivated and developed. It would have been an opportunity for the young discipline to advance and cultivate a solid form of introspection to address phenomena that can – because of their first-person nature – only be captured from a first-person perspective (e.g., the qualia aspect of self or consciousness). But because the naïve and spontaneous introspective methods were unreliable, they did not produce solid results. Instead of advancing introspection to better address this, first-person aspects of psychological phenomena are often disregarded as being merely epiphenomenal. They are dismissed from the scope of enquiry altogether –not because they are in principle inaccessible or non-existing, but because they are inaccessible with the conventional methods that we use.

This Research Topic seeks to provide an overview over the challenges and opportunities of introspection in theory and method. On the one hand, we seek to address ongoing epistemological debates in the psychological and philosophical literature. This includes the general question about the legitimacy of introspection as a meaningful research method. It also includes a distinction of different types of introspection (e.g., introspection on the results vs. the processes of cognition) – and what these can achieve vs. not achieve (cf., the account of auto- vs. heterophenomenology). Moreover, it includes a dialogue on how research on introspection in the philosophical and psychological domains can inform each other.

On the other hand, we also seek to study the methodological and theoretical implications of introspective research with a particular emphasis on specific phenomena in psychological research (e.g., memory, thought, etc.). Different approaches exist: at one extreme, introspection is used to study the first-person characteristics of psychological phenomena; at the other extreme, introspection is used to refine and guide the study of third-person characteristics of psychological phenomena. In this Research Topic we seek to compile contributions from both ends, seeking to enquire into the method of introspection proper, as well using and advancing the method to research psychological phenomena. Introspection is virtually non-existent as an approach in the sense that the researcher studies her own mental state to advance the theory of psychological phenomena. As outlined above, however, it is exactly this which is needed – and we are certain the dialogue around this will trigger an intense debate.

Keywords: introspection, first-person research, methodology, consciousness research, qualitative research

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 111kTopic views
  • 92kArticle views
  • 9,085Article downloads
View impact