Is research painting a biased picture of implicit learning? The dangers of methodological purity in scientific debate

Abstract

Contrasts the properties of implicit learning in natural settings with those found in research, and comments on Z. Dienes and D. Berry's (see record 84-25293) and A. Neal and B. Hesketh's (see record 84-25309) articles on implicit learning. It is suggested that the search for pure cases and the necessity of finding features that clearly discriminate the 2 types of learning lead to bias in our estimation of the power of implicit processes. In more natural settings, such as face recognition, object perception, and natural language processing, implicit processes operate with flexibility and adapt to changes in environmental conditions. It is also suggested that the search for pure cases of implicit processes has led to focusing on relevant but atypical examples of these processes. The author states that additional research that emphasizes high levels of skill in control of complex systems may reveal greater adaptive power of implicit processes. However, such research may require less methodological purity and more emphasis on synthesis of theoretical ideas rather than analysis into pure cases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)