Lilienfeld et al. – Chapter 1: Psychology and Scientific Thinking: A Framework for Everyday Life p. 1 of 12 Revised September 2015 Many first time college students struggle adjusting to expectations of collegelevel courses. One reason for this is that collegelevel courses require students to learn new content and apply that content to new situations. These worksheets are designed to highlight the difference between simple content knowledge and application of that knowledge. Your answers to content questions will come from your text, and classroom lectures and discussions. Your answers to application questions will come from your own thinking about the content and puzzling out the answer. To reiterate, answers to application questions are not in the text. In class, I’ll probably refer to these as C1 (for Q1 under Content) and A1 (for Q1 under Application)… Content Application What is Psychology? Science versus Intuition 1 a. What is psychology? (from text) b. Note the revision from class: 2 a. What do the authors mean by “levels of explanation”? b. Why are these different levels of explanations relevant to the field of psychology? 1 Choose a, b or c, and come up with one question about the topic that could be asked at each level of analysis. Be sure to identify your question by level. (a) “language development” (b) “schizophrenia” (c) “violent behavior” Your questions:
Transcript
Lilienfeld et al. – Chapter 1: Psychology and Scientific Thinking: A Framework for Everyday Life p. 1 of 12
Revised September 2015
Many first time college students struggle adjusting to expectations of college-‐level courses. One reason for this is that college-‐level courses require students to learn new content and apply that content to new situations. These worksheets are designed to highlight the difference between simple content knowledge and application of that knowledge. Your answers to content questions will come from your text, and classroom lectures and discussions. Your answers to application questions will come from your own thinking about the content and puzzling out the answer. To reiterate, answers to application questions are not in the text. In class, I’ll probably refer to these as C1 (for Q1 under Content) and A1 (for Q1 under Application)…
Content Application What is Psychology? Science versus Intuition 1 a. What is psychology? (from text)
b. Note the revision from class:
2 a. What do the authors mean by “levels of explanation”? b. Why are these different levels of explanations relevant to the field of psychology?
1 Choose a, b or c, and come up with one question about the topic that could be asked at each level of analysis. Be sure to identify your question by level. (a) “language development” (b) “schizophrenia” (c) “violent behavior” Your questions:
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3 List the five things the authors consider to be distinctive challenges of psychology.
2 Explain why these different issues make it difficult for psychologists to arrive at a certain explanation of why people engage in road rage.
4 Describe two examples from the text that illustrate why we should not trust our “common sense.”
5 What is “naïve realism”?
3 a. Describe two examples from your own experience that illustrate that you are indeed prone to naïve realism. b. Use the Facilitated Communication scandal to explain the tendency for naïve realism. c. Explain how naïve realism and belief perseverance effect are related.
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6 Under what circumstances are “common sense” or “gut instinct” useful in science?
7 What makes a discipline a “science”?
4 Briefly explain why psychology is a science.
8 What attitudes and/or personality traits are necessary for researchers? Note that these are spread across several sections of this chapter. Add any new ones from class as well.
5 Choose a couple of the attitudes/personality traits discussed in the book or in class and explain why they are necessary for researchers to have.
9 a. What is a scientific theory? Include reference to the two misconceptions in your answer. b. How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?
6 A lady in front of you in line at the grocery store tells you that she has a theory about the cashier in your line. She thinks that the cashier hates men. She predicts that the cashier will treat the men rudely and the women with courtesy. Is this a scientific theory? Why or why not?
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10 What is the difference between empirical claims and metaphysical (nonempirical) claims?
7 a. What is the authors’ point in talking about different types of claims? b. Give an example of a metaphysical question related to psychology that does not involve religious beliefs. c. Take the question you listed above and make a related empirical question that could be addressed scientifically.
11 a. What is “confirmation bias”? b. What is “belief perseverance”?
8 Why do the authors refer to these two tendencies as “traps”?
Psychological Pseudoscience: Imposters of Science 12 a. What is pseudoscience?
b. From your textbook, list several examples of pseudoscience.
13 In general, what safeguards are absent from pseudoscience?
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14 Familiarize yourselves with the eight signs or characteristics of pseudoscience described by the authors.
9 Consider the eight signs or characteristics of pseudoscience. What would the legitimate scientific correlate of each of these be? Why is each of these characteristics of science necessary? Use other paper for your answer. [Note: If I don’t offer it, be sure to ask me for a handout to help you organize your thoughts on this question.]
10 Come up with some memory aids to help you remember the names and meanings of these eight characteristics of pseudoscience. Use other paper for your answer. Perhaps we should have a friendly competition with a prize for the best mnemonic device… :^)
15 Why do we perceive patterns even when they don’t exist? (Briefly summarize the box.)
11 What action can YOU take to avoid falling into this trap?
16 What reasons do your authors provide for why people fall for pseudoscientific claims?
12 Looking to your own present or past, describe three or four pseudoscientific beliefs that you have had. Do not include examples from the text or lecture.
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17 What is a “logical fallacy”? Familiarize yourself with the following fallacies. Be sure to take notes in class on these. An * indicates a fallacy not described in your text: Not-‐me fallacy Bandwagon fallacy Hasty generalization Appeal to authority Appeal to the masses Appeal to tradition Emotional reasoning fallacy Ad hominem*
13 How can an understanding of logical fallacies help you avoid falling for a pseudoscientific product?
18 According to your authors, why can pseudoscience lead to harm?
14 Consider the facilitated communication fiasco. Describe several different types of harm that resulted from people using facilitated communication prior to its being tested. Use specific references to people in the film. Do any of your examples of harm caused by FC fit into the three types of harm mentioned by your authors? If so, identify them in your answer.
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19 Scientific Thinking: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING: What does it mean to rule out rival hypotheses? (Be sure to address the following components in your explanation: What is a hypothesis? What is a RIVAL hypothesis? How do we RULE OUT rival hypotheses?)
15 Explain how ruling out rival hypotheses relates to the notion that correlations do not indicate causal relationships. Use an example to help you make your point clear.
20 What does “Correlation isn’t Causation” mean? (Be sure to address the following components in your explanation: What is a correlation? What does causation mean? What is the third variable problem? What doesn’t correlation always lead to causation?)
16 Describe an example of a pseudoscientific belief, perhaps from an infomercial you have watched, that depends on people failing to acknowledge this principle. Then explain your example using the steps of the “third variable problem”.
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21 What is falsifiability? (Be sure to address the following components in your explanation: What does falsifiable mean? WHAT is it that can be falsified or not? Why is it necessary to be able to falsify? How do we avoid being sucked into non-‐falsifiable claims?)
17 a. Why is it crucial to scientific discovery that claims are falsifiable? b. Explain why Doug Biklen’s position on facilitated communication was nonfalsifiable. Use quotes from the transcript to support your answer.
22 a. What is replicability? (Be sure to address the following components in your explanation: What does replicate mean? WHAT is it that is replicated? What can it mean if a finding is NOT replicable?) b. Your authors say “we shouldn’t place too much stock in a psychological finding until it’s been replicated.” Why not?
18 a. Why would it be critical for findings regarding a new drug used with ADHD children to be replicable? b. In the facilitated communication fiasco, what finding was replicated?
23 a. What makes a claim extraordinary (or bold)? b. What is the main point of principle #5?
18 How does this principle of scientific thinking relate to “Burden of proof”?
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24 What is Occam’s Razor (Principle of Parsimony)?
19 Explain how Doug Biklen violated Occam’s Razor in his treatment of facilitated communication. Provide evidence to support your response.
25 a. What is Wilhelm Wundt’s claim to fame? [Just a reminder to say to yourself, “Vil-‐helllllm Vuuunt” ;^) I will expect proper pronunciation.] b. What is introspection?
20 What characteristic of pseudoscience does introspection demonstrate? (In other words, what principle of scientific thinking does introspection violate?)
26 a. What was the primary goal of structuralism? b. Who is associated with the school of structuralism?
27 a. What was the primary goal of functionalism? b. Who is associated with the school of functionalism?
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28 a. What was the primary goal of behaviorism? b. Who is associated with the school of behaviorism?
29 a. What was the primary goal of cognitivism? b. Who is associated with the school of cognitivism?
30 a. What was the primary goal of psychoanalysis? b. Who is associated with the school of psychoanalysis?
31 Look over Table 1.6 and be familiar with the different types of settings in which psychologists operate.
21 In your review of Table 1.5, were you surprised by any of the types of psychologists? Were you a victim of any of the misconceptions? If so, which ones? Why do you think you held these faulty beliefs?
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32 a. What is the nature/nurture debate? b. According to your authors, how has it been resolved?
22 Consider why little girls tend to play with dolls and like dress up, while little boys tend to like more robust, active play. What questions would arise in a discussion regarding nature and nurture? What would the current position tend to be?
33 What is evolutionary psychology?
23 What problems does evolutionary psychology run into when drawing conclusions? Thinking back to the principles of scientific thinking.
34 a. What is basic research? (Use the definition from class) b. What is applied research?
24 During the investigation of a particular topic, when would you think each type of research takes place?
Important terms: These terms should look familiar and should appear in your answers to the study guide questions. Some terms will come from your notes from class lectures and discussions.
1 ad hoc immunizing hypothesis
2 anecdote
3 ad hominem
4 appeal to authority
5 appeal to the masses
6 appeal to tradition
7 applied research
8 bandwagon fallacy
9 basic research
10 behaviorism
11 belief perseverance
12 causation
13 claim
14 cognition/Cognitivism
15 common-sense
16 confirmation bias
17 connectivity
18 correlation
19 critical thinking
20 cynicism
21 either-or fallacy
22 emotional reasoning fallacy
23 empiricism/empirical claim
24 evidence (as opposed to proof)
25 extraordinary claim
26 false dilemma
27 falsifiable
28 functionalism
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