Although Harvard professors say that their emphasis on empirical data reflects a general trend, a scholar at Stanford University disagrees, saying that theoretical research is on the rise. "The field is going less empirical, not more empirical. There's been a flood of work in this area that's largely non-empirical," says Brian A. Wandell, Stanford associate professor of psychology.
According to Harvard professors, Stanford regularly ranks number one to Harvard's number two in polls ranking psychology departments nationwide.
Even if Wandell is correct, and professors at other universities are placing more emphasis on theory, Harvard professors say that such a move would be inappropriate for undergraduates.
Although scholarly theses, based on historical rather than experimental data, are welcomed by the department, professors say they are difficult for students to execute well.
"There is no rule against [theoretical theses, but] I have always advised students that in the long run doing empirical theses turns out easier to do well than a thesis based entirely on library research," Maher says.
"In my view a lot of undergraduates would like to do such theses but have trouble with them," says Professor of Psychology Sheldon H. White.
While students and professors disagree whether the department should become more or less theoretical, both sides concur that no great change will take place until the seven posts are filled.
The new senior professors, Maher says, will probably specialize in the fields of personality, perception, cognitive science, and psychoanalysis. These four people will play an important role in shaping the department in the coming years.
The appointees who specialize in the "softer" fields, in particular, may bring new vitality to the part of the department in which students seem most interested. Professor of Psychology Stephen M. Kosslyn, who heads the search committee for the senior post in the field of perception, says six scholars are currently being considered for the position. "We hope to have an offer out this semester," he says.
The search for a senior professor who specializes in cognitive psychology is also nearing completion, according to Estes, who chairs that search committee. "With luck we might have some news within a month or so," Estes says.
Last spring the department searched for a professor who specialized in biological psychology. After the scholar chosen rejected Harvard's offer, the appointment landed "on the shelf," Maher says.
As the searches continue, all that students and faculty members who are unhappy with the department's current direction, or lack thereof, can do is wait.
"I don't know what direction they're planning to head into and I'm not sure they know either," says Mazur, who is in his eighth and last year at Harvard and will be teaching at Southern Connecticut University next year.