Note from the Editor:

In the last few years – perhaps, not coincidentally, since Covid – I have sometimes felt our pages have served more as a cauldron of emotions than a crucible of change. There’s intent and purpose in that, and as I have often said, plenty of readers get in touch to say they appreciate that space we provide. But I’ll admit to a nagging sense that our magazine needs more of a ‘solutions focus‘ (via our Research Digest editor Emma Barratt).

So, I’m pleased to introduce this special collection, where we invited contributors to complete the sentence ‘Psychology needs a … revolution’, with a focus on areas of practical change. Some 15 years on from Psychology’s ‘replication crisis, there is a focus on research, but perhaps this is just part one… particularly judging by the breadth of suggestions on this spread, sourced from our various online platforms.

I’ll let the articles speak for themselves, but I will just conclude by saying that I have also encountered a sentiment along the lines of ‘the last thing Psychology needs is another revolution’. I have also often, including of late, been somewhat surprised by an apparent unwillingness to accept a need for change in Psychology… or, at least, to openly and publicly discuss it. And I will say that virtually always comes from those who hold the power.

Vive la révolution!

Dr Jon Sutton
Head of Science Communication, and Managing Editor

Psychology needs… an AI revolution
Psychology is in the midst of an AI revolution. But it’s not the one it needs, argues Jamie Cummins.

Psychology needs a… heterogeneity revolution
Audrey Linden argues we should drop the assumption that interventions will have a single, underlying effect size.

Psychology needs a… fascination revolution
Richard Wiseman argues that we are facing a dullness crisis.

Psychology needs a… noise revolution
Joakim Sundh calls on us to ‘zoom out’ and see the whole picture.

Psychology needs a… research evaluation revolution [retitled for print]
Elizabeth Stokoe, Matthew Inglis, Colin Foster, Hugo Lortie-Forgues and Victoria Simms share tales from the Research Excellence Framework.

Psychology needs a… measurement revolution
Margarita Panayiotou writes.

Psychology needs a… humility revolution
Madeleine Pownall argues that Psychology is ‘necessarily limited and incomplete’.

We need to be wary of the ‘revolution’ narrative – but still be activist! Marcus Munafo, Associate Editor for Research, offers his perspective