What are the limitations to the use of introspection in cognitive psychology?
The introspective method was introduced, first by Wundt, about a century ago. Titcher, in the late 19th century wrote that if we have to study consciousness then introspective and introspection reports must be used. Another psychologist claimed the introspection to be an indispensable part of the psychology.
Many attempts have been made by the psychologists to measure the introspective reports to supply them with more amenable and objective statistical analysis. One procedure requires the subjects to evaluate the phenomenological assessment, during which they are also required to respond a previous situation, during which the stimulus was presented.
In short, the subjects evaluated the present situations, based on their past experiences. A psychologist realized that the introspection is not only widespread, but is also a good predictor of the behavior of the individuals. There are, however, certain limitations to this method. For instance, subjects might evaluate the situation, which could be socially desirable, rather than giving their own point of view.
They might even respond in the way that could please the researchers. In other instances, the subjects might have difficulty in assessing their own thoughts and feelings, which might have been subsided in the unconscious mind. Hence, it is still the intense area of research amongst the psychologists.