Think Like a Psychologist

1. Think Like a Psychologist

2. Thesis • Psychologists use scientific reasoning strategies • These strategies can be helpful outside of this class *Many of the points in this presentation are based on Keith Stanovich’s book, How to Think Straight About Psychology.

3. Think Empirically • Opinions are interesting, but they don’t provide a good way to settle disputes • Let the data do the talking • Examples: • Lunar madness • Implicit egoism

4. Think Empirically Testimonials and anecdotes do not provide good evidence Reliability Internal validity External validity

5. Think Falsifiably • There must be some way to test a claim for it to be falsifiable • Theories that explain every possible outcome explain nothing • Examples: • Freudian personality theory • Maslow’s hierarchy

6. Think Probabilistically As in other science, evidence is probabilistic, not absolute Need to tolerate ambiguity Accurate prediction in long run, not individual cases

7. Think Skeptically • Scientists can never be 100% certain • Support for a claim varies on a continuum from weak to strong • Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence • ESP • Subliminal perception

8. Think Operationally Psychologists evaluate ideas operationally: define variables by describing how they are measured Philosophers (and others) rely on essentialism: what is the true meaning? Example: What is intelligence?

9. Think Realistically Most things are not caused by single factors acting alone Multiple causation Interaction of factors Example: conformity under some situations but not others

10. Benefits of Thinking Like a Psychologist Use and apply psychological research Don’t get influenced by bogus claims Tolerate and appreciate uncertainty