Can we revive the classical experiment for social psychology?

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Abstract
The discontent that has been expressed with contemporary methods of experimentation in social psychology requires the proposal of positive alternatives. In this paper, we suggest the revival of the classical experiment a la Wundt (Danziger, 1981). The proposal is intended to obviate the problems associated with contemporary methods while retaining the benefits of systematic variation. The classical experiment is distinguished by a cooperative, equal-status relationship between investigator and participants, whose experimental roles may be interchangeable. It is particularly suited to the study of competence, which must be the initial focus of a renewed social psychology in contrast to the contemporary emphasis on performance (Harre, 1980). The creation of a psychological "jury panel" is suggested as one mechanism for fostering the use of the classical experiment.

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