The Psychology Index

The Psychology Index is an independent reference, written from scratch in plain English.

Editorial approach

How entries are written

Entries are unsigned and written for general readers. This page explains the standards they aim to meet.

Standards for each entry

Each entry states the mainstream account of a concept in plain language and then says where it is disputed.

  • All text is original to this site.
  • Further reading lists published primary work. If a reference cannot be confirmed, it is left out.
  • Failed or mixed replications are reported alongside the original claim.
  • Statistics and quotes are used only when they can be traced to a source.

Limits

Short entries simplify. They are a starting point and should not replace the original research, a textbook or professional advice. The people named in reference lists wrote the cited work and have no involvement with this site.