Eclectic and Coherent Combination in Psychological and Educational Theories

Providing a synthesis of psychological and educational theories is an inevitable necessity. However, there is always a risk in doing so. This risk is consists of combination of incoherent and contradictory parts of theoeirs due to the underlying and implicit layers or basic assumptions of the theories. Combination of theoretical and practical findings of theories that have different basic assumptions leads to incoherent and finally shaky structures and this is what referred to as eclectic combination. In this article, I have tried to clarify the basic differences between eclectic and integrated combination and to articulate the phases needed for providing an integrated combination. Because of the analytic nature of the discussion, the method used in this article is analytic. In this article, three types of eclectic combination are distinguished under the rubrics of methodical, explanatory, and foundational. In contrast to eclectic combination, there is the coherent combination. This article suggests three phases for providing a coherent combination: setting a metalanguage for theories concerned, deciding which theroies can be combined, modification of the chosen theoreies, and reexamining the new synthesis.