The Rise Of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing As The Gold Standard In Psychology, 1940-55

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dc.contributor.advisorGreen, Christopher D.
dc.contributor.authorArshinoff, Spencer Henry
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-10T10:42:56Z
dc.date.available2025-04-10T10:42:56Z
dc.date.copyright2024-09-11
dc.date.issued2025-04-10
dc.date.updated2025-04-10T10:42:56Z
dc.degree.disciplinePsychology (Functional Area: History and Theory)
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMA - Master of Arts
dc.description.abstractIn the midst of the ongoing replication crisis, it is more important than ever for psychologists to look critically at methodology. Nearly every psychologist uses null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) to analyze and draw conclusions from quantitative data, despite its imperfections and the heavy criticisms it has received, particularly in recent years. Though NHST is usually taught as a strictly formalized, “objective” procedure inherent to the field, it was only introduced to psychology in the 1930s. The method reached its current status of ubiquity during the so-called “inference revolution” of 1940-55 (Gigerenzer & Murray, 1987). However, the means through which this revolution occurred remain unclear. By reviewing course catalogues from six major Canadian universities from 1940-55 and situating my findings in the broader historical context, I aim to disentangle how, and why, NHST became the gold standard of psychological statistics during this time.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42755
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subject.keywordsStatistical inference
dc.subject.keywordsNull hypothesis significance testing
dc.subject.keywordsInference revolution
dc.subject.keywordsPost-secondary education
dc.subject.keywordsHistorical review
dc.subject.keywordsCanada
dc.subject.keywords1940s
dc.subject.keywords1950s
dc.subject.keywordsCourse catalogues
dc.subject.keywordsStatistical instruction
dc.titleThe Rise Of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing As The Gold Standard In Psychology, 1940-55
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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