SOME DETERMINANTS OF METHOD IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Proponents of all approaches to neuropsychology have supported their c laims on the grounds of undertaking a truly ''scientific neuropsycholo gy''. The claims assume that there is a particular approach to neurops ychological practice which is bias-free. They also assume that there i s a particular kind of question which neuropsychology addresses. In th is paper it is argued, however, that both as a clinical and a research enterprise, neuropsychologists ask a range of different kinds of ques tions, each of which has implications for the method used. Some of the kinds of questions addressed by neuropsychologists are discussed in t he context of the methodological approaches invoked to answer them. It is argued that to situate discussion of method in context in this way is to legitimise methodological plurality in neuropsychology. The pro position is illustrated by a case study.