Self-Experimentation: A Call for Change

June 18, 2011

In 1981, Allen Neuringer wrote a paper in the journal Behaviorism, calling for self-experimentation. Consider it your weekend reading assignment, should you choose to accept it.

Neuringer presents a fascinating history and philosophy of self-science, as well as his perspective on the importance of self-experimentation. There are even some early experimental graphs on needing less sleep when you eat fewer calories, and on thinking better when you are moving vs. sitting. No doubt the author would have enjoyed Ernesto Ramirez’s Treadmill Desk that he presented at the QS conference.

Here’s a short excerpt I enjoyed, where Neuringer is responding to his students’ objections to self-experimenting:

This sounds like an inspiring call for personal science, Seth Roberts style. The full PDF is here – thanks to Jon Arne Løkke for posting this to the QS Facebook group!

 

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