What Psychologists Do

Chapter One: What is Psychology?

Critical Thinking

INTRODUCTION

Critical thinking involves a set of skills that will help you distinguish arguments based on solidly grounded evidence from those that don’t.
WHAT'S AHEAD

What guidelines can you use to tell whether a psychological claim is merely psychobabble”?
Why is psychological theory unscientific if it explains anything that could conceivably happen?
W hat’s wrong with drawing conclusions about behavior from a collection of anecdotes ?

KEY CONCEPTS

Eight Critical Thinking Guidelines

Eight Critical Thinking Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Most of the finding in this text come from research psychologists.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

• Ask Questions: Be willing to wonder.

• Define Your Terms: Key to Research

Be precise about what is being studied.

The hypothesis is the statement that specifies (predicts) relationships between variables.

Operational definitions are the precise definitions in terms of how the variables are actually being observed and measured.

Ex: Anxiety can be operationally defined as a score on a particular anxiety test. The score is the operational definition of anxiety in this study.

• Examine the Evidence

What evidence supports or refutes the argument being made?

• Analyze Assumptions and Biases

We must be aware of how our assumptions might bias our conclusions.

The principle of falsifiability means that scientific predictions are made to expose the hypothesis to the possibility of disconfirmation.

• Avoid Emotional Reasoning

Emotional reasoning can replace clear thinking.

• Don’t Oversimplify

Resist easy generalizations and “either-or thinking”.

Resist arguing by anecdote - generalizing from a few examples to everyone. Ex: One dishonest student does not mean that all students will cheat on an exam.

• Consider Other Interpretations

Formulate hypotheses that offer explanations of the topic.

The goal is to arrive at a theory which is a system of principles that tries to explain the phenomena and their interrelationships.

Be careful not to shut out alternative explanations too soon.

• Tolerate Uncertainty

Many questions have no easy answers. We have to be willing to be uncertain when new evidence questions our conclusions.

Replication is important before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Apply a little critical thinking to the "miracle drugs" that have been advertized as increasing your memory.

http://www.psychplace.com/learning/claims/intro.html Requirse Course Password

Can you accurately assess the claims implied in advertising about such popular drugs --- like weight loss drugs? Check your critical thinking skills in this exercise.

GLOSSARY

critical thinking

hypothesis

operational definition

principle of falsifiability

theory

LINKS About Critical Thinking

"Psychobabble and Biobunk" essays by Carole Tavris (one of the text's authors): Anecdotes: Coat Hangers of Truth

"Call us Unpredictable"

•
wwwlink: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.

•
wwwlink: The Skeptic's Dictionary

•
wwwlink: Skeptic Magazine (Skeptics Society)

Next Topic - Descriptive Studies: Establishing the Facts.................Chapter Contents

•	Ask Questions: Be willing to wonder.

•	Define Your Terms: Key to Research
		Be precise about what is being studied.
		The hypothesis is the statement that specifies (predicts) relationships between variables.
		Operational definitions are the precise definitions in terms of how the variables are actually being observed and measured.
		Ex: Anxiety can be operationally defined as a score on a particular anxiety test. The score is the operational definition of anxiety in this study.

•	Examine the Evidence
		What evidence supports or refutes the argument being made?

•	Analyze Assumptions and Biases
		We must be aware of how our assumptions might bias our conclusions.
		The principle of falsifiability means that scientific predictions are made to expose the hypothesis to the possibility of disconfirmation.

•	Avoid Emotional Reasoning
		Emotional reasoning can replace clear thinking.

•	Don’t Oversimplify
		Resist easy generalizations and “either-or thinking”.
		Resist arguing by anecdote - generalizing from a few examples to everyone. Ex: One dishonest student does not mean that all students will cheat on an exam.

•	Consider Other Interpretations
		Formulate hypotheses that offer explanations of the topic.
		The goal is to arrive at a theory which is a system of principles that tries to explain the phenomena and their interrelationships.
		Be careful not to shut out alternative explanations too soon.

•	Tolerate Uncertainty
		Many questions have no easy answers. We have to be willing to be uncertain when new evidence questions our conclusions.
		Replication is important before firm conclusions can be drawn.

		Apply a little critical thinking to the "miracle drugs" that have been advertized as increasing your memory.
		http://www.psychplace.com/learning/claims/intro.html Requirse Course Password

		Can you accurately assess the claims implied in advertising about such popular drugs --- like weight loss drugs? Check your critical thinking skills in this exercise.

		critical thinking
		hypothesis
		operational definition
		principle of falsifiability
		theory

	"Psychobabble and Biobunk" essays by Carole Tavris (one of the text's authors): Anecdotes: Coat Hangers of Truth
	"Call us Unpredictable"
•	wwwlink: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
•	wwwlink: The Skeptic's Dictionary
•	wwwlink: Skeptic Magazine (Skeptics Society)