Creating the Future:Vygotsky as an Experimenter

This chapter describes both Lev Vygotsky&s;s reasoning about the aims of empirical research in psychology and several empirical studies that he supervised or discussed approvingly. It outlines in some detail Vygotsky&s;s theoretical views concerning the proper way to do empirical research. On several occasions Vygotsky discussed the role of properly conducted empirical research in psychology. The most elaborate considerations about the role of theory and experiment in psychology can perhaps be found find in Vygotsky&s;s analysis of the causes of the crisis in psychology. In arguing a genetic or historic approach Vygotsky relied both on Marxist thinking and on the work of Darwin. Vygotsky argued that all complex human mental processes are higher cultural functions in that they rely on the use of symbols, notably language. Vygotsky used the terms then available in empirical psychology and spoke of them as "stimuli" that the situation presents.