9 - Concluding Remarks

Summary

This short concluding chapter looks back over the preceding chapters and pulls together some of the interconnecting themes between them, especially in relation to the different ways psychological writers have used examples - for example to illustrate theory or as a means of discovery. The discussion on the various ways of using examples in psychological writing is not presented as the first step towards a psychology of examples which is currently lacking. There are some speculations why the study of examples has been neglected. The chapter finishes with some recommendations, which are directed towards young academics. These recommendations suggest that they should give descriptive examples more weight, and theory less weight.