ABSTRACT
It is a common criticism of psychology and related behavioral and social sciences that they cumulate poorly. Our sciences do not seem to show the orderly progress and development shown by the natural and physical sciences. The newer work of these “harder” sciences is seen to build directly on the earlier work of these sciences. Our sciences, on the other hand, seem nearly to be starting anew with each succeeding volume of the psychological journals. Although it appears that the natural and physical sciences have problems of their own when it comes to successful cumulation (Collins, 1985; Hedges, 1987; Hively, 1989; Koshland, 1989; Pool, 1988, 1989) there is no denying that in the matter of cumulating evidence we have much to be modest about.
