--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Much research in psychology has been more…" description: "\"Much research in psychology has been more concerned with how large groups of people behave than about the particular ways in which each individual pers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg" --- # Much research in psychology has been more concerned with… ![“Much research in psychology has been more concerned with how large groups of people behave than about the particular ways in which each individual person thinks... too statistical. I find this disappointing because, in my view of the history of psychology, far more was learned, for example, when…” quote by Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg) > “Much research in psychology has been more concerned with how large groups of people behave than about the particular ways in which each individual person thinks... too statistical. I find this disappointing because, in my view of the history of psychology, far more was learned, for example, when Jean Piaget spent several years observing the ways that three children developed, or when Sigmund Freud took several years to examine the thinking of a rather small number of patients.” [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Psychology often favors large‑scale studies, overlooking deep insights from intensive individual observation. **In simple terms:** Big studies miss personal details. Key Takeaway Value case studies. Themes research methods individual differences psychology Mood analytical thoughtful Type theoretical methodological When to use this quote - clinical practice - education - policy design - market research Key Concepts methodology history of science observation Questions to Reflect On - How can we integrate individual case studies with big data? - What are the risks of over‑generalizing? A Different Perspective Large samples provide statistical power; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Large groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-groups/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Small numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-numbers/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“The key principle of Jean Piaget's genetic epistemology is constructivism. Constructivism rejects old-fashioned rationalism: Knowledge is not made out of special knowledge-parts preformed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulrich-m-ller/the-key-principle-of-jean-piaget-s-genetic-epistemology-is/) [Ulrich Müller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulrich-m-ller/) > [“Jean Piaget was the first psychologist to complete a systematic study of cognitive development. He introduced us to the idea that children are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-landrigan/jean-piaget-was-the-first-psychologist-to-complete-a-systematic-study/) [Clare Landrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-landrigan/) > [The development of the meaning attaching to the personal self, the conscious being, is the subject matter of the history of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mark-baldwin/the-development-of-the-meaning-attaching-to-the-personal-self-the/) [James Mark Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mark-baldwin/) > [For the first time in human history the psychology that is a prerequisite for intimacy has become the psychology that is a prerequisite for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/for-the-first-time-in-human-history-the-psychology-that-is-a/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [I've always been interested in intellectual history and in psychology, and anxiety is obviously something that's been a big part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-intellectual-history-and-in-psychology/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [In conclusion we may say, in view of the confirmation that our study has given of the parallelism between individual and racial thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-conclusion-we-may-say-in-view-of-the-confirmation-that-our-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not great... in large groups of people, but I'm not shy anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/i-m-not-great-in-large-groups-of-people-but-i-m-not-shy-anymore/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [I can't hang around with lots of people these days because I am hypersensitive. So when I am around a lot of people or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-can-t-hang-around-with-lots-of-people-these-days-because-i-am/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/never-underestimate-the-power-of-stupid-people-in-large-groups/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [ \[Mitt\] Romney did not have and never did have a large group of supporters that were personally attached, connected, and loyal to him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/mitt-romney-did-not-have-and-never-did-have-a-large-group-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I wanted to be a Teacher with a big T, teach the whole planet. It led me into writing and speaking to large groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-wanted-to-be-a-teacher-with-a-big-t-teach-the-whole-planet-it-led/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Jane wondered why small-minded people often form such large groups as she made her way home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-nicolaisen/jane-wondered-why-small-minded-people-often-form-such-large-groups-as/) [Chris Nicolaisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-nicolaisen/) > [When I see a large group of people, I wonder how many of them will eventually require autopsies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/when-i-see-a-large-group-of-people-i-wonder-how-many-of-them-will/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It's important to adhere to the principles of a large group of people that truly believe these principles, and if they believe them, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-important-to-adhere-to-the-principles-of-a-large-group-of-people/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More by Jean Piaget > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered himself, that child is kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/each-time-one-prematurely-teaches-a-child-something-he-could-have/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“A fact is first an answer to a question. If Sartre had consulted psychologists before judging them in the light of his own genius,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/a-fact-is-first-an-answer-to-a-question-if-sartre-had-consulted/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [If logic itself is created rather than being inborn, it follows that the first task of education is to form reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/if-logic-itself-is-created-rather-than-being-inborn-it-follows-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Experience precedes understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/experience-precedes-understanding/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Equilibrium is the profoundest tendency of all human activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/equilibrium-is-the-profoundest-tendency-of-all-human-activity/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“To expect a fact, is by definition to expect the isolated, it is for positivism, to prefer the ‘accident’ to the essential, the contingent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/to-expect-a-fact-is-by-definition-to-expect-the-isolated-it-is-for/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Knowing reality means constructing systems of transformations that correspond, more or less adequately, to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/knowing-reality-means-constructing-systems-of-transformations-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The majority of parents are poor psychologists and give their children the most questionable moral trainings. It is perhaps in this domain that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-majority-of-parents-are-poor-psychologists-and-give-their/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [As you know, Bergson pointed out that there is no such thing as disorder but rather two sorts of order, geometric and living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/as-you-know-bergson-pointed-out-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [For the fundamental fact of human psychology is that society, instead of remaining almost entirely inside the individual organism as in the case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/for-the-fundamental-fact-of-human-psychology-is-that-society-instead/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [What is desired is that the teacher ceased being a lecturer, satisfied with transmitting ready-made solutions. His role should rather be that of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/what-is-desired-is-that-the-teacher-ceased-being-a-lecturer-satisfied/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“I know some very intelligent philosophers, not at all dogmatic, who believe that “science” cannot introduce the concept of finality in the analysis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/i-know-some-very-intelligent-philosophers-not-at-all-dogmatic-who/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) [Explore all 112 Jean Piaget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## More Behave quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [Why does man behave like perfect idiot? This is the problem I wish to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/why-does-man-behave-like-perfect-idiot-this-is-the-problem-i-wish-to/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Most people, even in simple risky situations, don't behave the way the theory of utility would have them behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-raiffa/most-people-even-in-simple-risky-situations-don-t-behave-the-way-the/) [Howard Raiffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-raiffa/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [What astonishes many of us is not so much that human nature is fundamentally corrupt; we are astonished rather that it does not behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-irving-seiden/what-astonishes-many-of-us-is-not-so-much-that-human-nature-is/) Morton Irving Seiden > [Do we behave out of fear of punishment, or out of the demands of our heart? For me, it is the latter, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-we-behave-out-of-fear-of-punishment-or-out-of-the-demands-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) Browse all 1,587 Behave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Much research in psychology has been more concerned with how large groups of people behave than about the particular ways in which each individual person thinks... too statistical. I find this disappointing because, in my view of the history of psychology, far more was learned, for example, when Jean Piaget spent several years observing the ways that three children developed, or when Sigmund Freud took several years to examine the thinking of a rather small number of patients.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Piaget" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/much-research-in-psychology-has-been-more-concerned-with-how-large/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/much-research-in-psychology-has-been-more-concerned-with-how-large/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/jean-piaget-4336_behave_much-research-in-psychology-has-been-mor_3078738.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Much research in psychology has been more concerned with how large groups of people behave than about the…” — Jean Piaget", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Piaget", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Much research in psychology has been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/much-research-in-psychology-has-been-more-concerned-with-how-large/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/much-research-in-psychology-has-been-more-concerned-with-how-large/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```