Which of the following is a criticism of analytic introspection in the context of the scientific method in psychology?

• A. It focuses on observable behaviors rather than mental processes.
• B. It encourages the replication of findings across different settings.
• C. It relies heavily on subjective reports that cannot be independently verified.
• D. It emphasizes the use of controlled laboratory experiments.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what analytic introspection is — it is a method where individuals report their own conscious experiences in response to stimuli, focusing on internal mental processes.
2. Step 2: Recognize the key criticism of analytic introspection in scientific psychology: it depends on subjective self-reports, which are personal and cannot be independently verified by other researchers.
3. Step 3: Compare this criticism to the other options: focusing on observable behaviors is actually a criticism of introspection, but analytic introspection itself focuses on mental processes, not behaviors.
4. Step 4: Note that encouraging replication and emphasizing controlled experiments are strengths of the scientific method, not criticisms of analytic introspection.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the main criticism is the reliance on subjective data, which limits the method's objectivity and replicability in scientific research.