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The importance of ecological validity, ultimate causation, and natural categories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2022

Catherine A. Salmon Open the ORCID record for Catherine A. Salmon [Opens in a new window]  and
Jessica A. Hehman
Catherine A. Salmon
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373, USA. catherine_salmon@redlands.edu, jessica_hehman@redlands.edu
Jessica A. Hehman
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373, USA. catherine_salmon@redlands.edu, jessica_hehman@redlands.edu
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Abstract

The target article raises important questions about the applicability of experimental social psychology research on topics with policy implications. This commentary focuses on the importance of attending to a variety of factors to improve ecological validity as well as considering the ultimate factors shaping behavior and the role of natural categories in the stability of stereotypes and their influence.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e92
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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