eprintid: 19676
rev_number: 47
eprint_status: archive
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/01/96/76
datestamp: 2015-10-21 13:34:01
lastmod: 2016-01-01 09:52:05
status_changed: 2015-10-21 13:34:01
type: bookPart
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Wenzlhuemer, Roland
title: Counterfactual Thinking as a Scientific Method
title_de: Kontrafaktisches Denken als wissenschaftliche Methode
subjects: ddc-900
divisions: i-72020
keywords: counterfactual thinking, counterfactual history, contrast effect, hindsight bias, self-protective bias
cterms_swd: Kontingenz
cterms_swd: Kontrafaktizität
abstract: Despite their alleged uselessness, we frequently encounter instances of counterfactual thinking in everyday-life situations. During the last two decades, psychologists
have examined this phenomenon and have been able to show that counterfactual thoughts about past (and, therefore, unchangeable) events can be useful for the thinker. This article retraces the effects of counterfactual thinking in everyday life and seeks to translate them into an academic context. Can counterfactuals produce similar analytical benefits in the sciences? And if so, what exactly are those benefits? After briefly examining the psychological aspects of counterfactual thinking, the article discusses its potential uses from a general scientific perspective before using counterfactual history as a concrete example. Eventually and for good measure, attention is drawn to the clear and present dangers associated with counterfactual thinking in an academic context.
date: 2009
publisher: Center for Historical Social Research
id_scheme: DOI
id_number: 10.11588/heidok.00019676
ppn_swb: 1658801652
own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-196768
language: eng
bibsort: WENZLHUEMECOUNTERFAC2009
full_text_status: public
place_of_pub: Köln
pagerange: 27-54
book_title: Counterfactual Thinking as a Scientific Method. Special Issue of Historical Social Research
editors_name: Wenzlhuemer, Roland
citation:   Wenzlhuemer, Roland  (2009) Counterfactual Thinking as a Scientific Method.  [Book Section]     
document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/19676/1/Wenzlhuemer_Counterfactual_thinking_as_a_scientific_2009.pdf