DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY IN CHANGING SOCIO-CULTURAL
CONTEXT
Publication Project
During the VIIth European Conference on
Developmental Psychology, Krakow, Poland, 23-27 August
1995 a poster workshop entitled "Development in a
Changing Socio-Cultural Context" took place. Among its
aims the following were enumerated: "to discuss the
possibilities of a theoretical approach which would help
to interpret and to explain the phenomena observed in
various socio-cultural contexts, and to look for
possibilities of a joint European research project on
these issues". The poster workshop was followed by the
round table discussion during which the necessity of
discussion of theoretical standpoints represented by
researches from various regions of Europe emerged. It was
argued that it will be probably not possible to interpret
the phenomena observed in recent period of rapid socio-
cultural, economic, and political changes without the
thorough discussion of underlying theoretical
assumptions. Nor will it be possible to start truly
international (or inter-regional) research projects. It
is important to note that Europe is conceived here as a
community of countries sharing similar cultural
background, general goals, and basic values. It is thus
not limited to the geographical entity of the old
continent.
As a starting point for such a discussion it was
proposed to produce a series of short theoretical papers
presenting theoretical frameworks in which researchers
currently carrying out research projects dealing with
individual development in the changing socio-cultural
context could present and discuss their theoretical
standpoints. The main objective of this effort is to
develop a new framework (perspective, paradigm) in which
the phenomena difficult to understand within existing
framework could be dealt with.
In order to achieve this goal the following problems
appear as the important topics to be discussed:
1. Cultural model(s) of psychology.
In various regions of Europe different theoretical
traditions are followed. This is reflected in many ways
in models of psychology developed there. (A trivial
evidence of this is the variety of the ways of organising
the academic institutions dealing with psychology across
Europe.) One of the models seems to prevail in
contemporary psychology: psychology as a science where
the term "science" is understood according to its meaning
in English language. The question we would like to ask is
whether this model is sufficient in the context of new
social requisites for psychology in changing socio-
cultural context (changes in the geo-political situation,
move towards democracy and integration)
2. Basic concepts.
The various theoretical traditions entail the use of
specific concepts to explain the observed phenomena.
However, the exchange of ideas and research results
fostered by recent developments in communication devices
results in incorporating concepts from different
theoretical traditions. In this process the concepts
change their meanings or acquire new ones. As one of the
important tasks to be completed in order to enable future
joint research projects we propose to identify concepts
which are considered by researchers working in the field
of developmental psychology to be the most basic ones for
carrying out research and to define them. This is not the
task of forming any kind of list of obligatory concepts
for European researchers. It will serve, we hope, as a
means for better mutual understanding by researchers
coming from different European traditions.
3. Theories used for understanding the basic concepts.
The mutual understanding may also be fostered by the
identification and discussion of basic theories used by
the researchers from various regions to interpret the
observed phenomena. We would like to invite the
researchers to conduct a "scientific auto-analysis" in
order to answer the following questions: Which
theory(ies) are the most useful tool in my research? and:
How do I understand it(them)?
4. Methodology of empirical research.
The next important issue to be discussed is the
problem of methodology of empirical research. It appears
that the scientific methodology is no longer sufficient.
In order to look for new methods the question of the unit
of analysis appears to be of the most basic importance.
Again, the task is not to look for a universal measure.
The goal is rather to look for the joint starting point
for future investigation. Another words: How to structure
reality so that it allowed us to better understand it?
5. Implementation of the research results into practice.
The final question deals with the age-old division
existing in many (if not in all) fields of science:
theoretical (academic) and applied (practical). Is this
division to be held in contemporary developmental
psychology? If not how to design our research project so
that they were closer to reality and everyday life?
As it was stated above, researchers interested in
joining the project are invited to write short (10 -12
double-spaced pages) theoretical papers containing
answers to some or all the questions put above.
Theoretical statements may be illustrated with research
results. However, the main objective is to provide the
clear account of the author's theoretical standpoint.
Before publication the papers will be distributed among
all project participants who will then be invited to
write commentaries on issues presented in the papers. We
hope that these commentaries will serve as a means of
discussion of the vital issues.
As a vehicle for the discussion the new journal,
Polish Quarterly of Developmental Psychology, was
proposed (see, the enclosed Call for Papers and
Instructions for Authors). The papers and commentaries
may form a (special?) issue of volume 2 (1996) which will
be edited by G. Breslav and J. Luczynski.
The schedule of the project is as follows:
preparation of short (10 -12 double-spaced pages) papers
till December 15, 1995. Papers should be e-mailed to
J.Luczynski (upluczyn who-is-at cyf-kr.edu.pl). They will be
reviewed by the editors and if accepted and if the revisions will
be necessary returned to the Authors for revision by January 15,
1996. Revised papers should be sent to J.Luczynski again by
February 28, 1996. On March 1, 1996 they will be distributed
among the project participants for commentaries (2 - 3 double-
spaced pages). Commentaries should be sent to J.Luczynski till
March 31, 1996. The final version of the issue containing revised
papers and commentaries should be ready by June 1, 1996.
We warmly invite you to participate in the project.
Please, let us know whether you are interested in joining
us. We would be grateful for any comment you may have.
Please feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be
interested in participating in the project.
Gershon Breslav
Jan Luczynski