Prolegomenon: Addressing the tyranny of old ideas

Abstract

The concept of behaviorism and its influence on research and practice in human communication sciences and disorders is critically reviewed; historical and critical analysis suggests that this concept is less beneficial than once believed. Consequently, suggestions are made to overcome some of its influence. Based on the contemporary philosophy of science termed “scientific realism”, suggestions for more qualitative research methodologies are discussed. A demonstration of how scientific realism provides a context for employing the concept of generalization in qualitative research is provided.