RAYMOND B. CATTELL (1905–1998) I POLA VEKA MULTIVARIJATNE EKSPERIMENTALNE METODOLOGIJE
RAYMOND B. CATTELL (1905-1998) AND HALF CENTURY OF THE MULTIVARIATE EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY

Summary/Abstract: The previous year marked the 110th anniversary of Raymond Bernard Cattell’s (1905-1998) birth, and in this one (2016) nearly half a century has passed since the foundation of The Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology, issuing the society’s today very influential journal and publishing a comprehensive handbook on multivariate experimental psychology. These represent but a few of Cattell’s contributions to modern psychology. The anniversary is a perfect occasion to take a look back on the work of one of the greatest researchers in the 20th century psychology, the basic principles and concepts of multivariate experimental methodology which Cattell untiringly supported during his entire career. In this paper among the fundamental concepts of multivariate methodology we single out the extending of the conception of experiment, the taxonomy of research designs, distinguishing mathematical and statistical models from the derived measuring models and theoretical models as well as crossvalidation. Some reasons are given as to certain pressing back and losing sight of this significant contribution to modern psychology, which motivated, in that time, Cattell’s sometimes harsh criticism of scientific endeavors. His target, in the first place, concerned psychologists who, uncritically following the example of more developed sciences created some sort of idolatry concerning the so-called methodological traditions. This uncritical acceptance of methodology has been one of the main factors causing inertia in academic circles represented in well-established reviewing practice, teaching process and mentorship of future psychologists within the traditional setting. Despite the ensuing advancement, or, better, survival of multivariate experimental methodology, Cattell’s warnings and criticism concerning the potential dangers of reduction to mathematical and statistical models and their abuse in psychological and related areas of research remains actual.

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