Critical Thinking

Objectives

In this section you will apply what you have learned to critically evaluate real-world psychological research.

Reading

Throughout this course we will be referring you to readings from the e-textbook "Introduction to Psychology, First Edition" by Charles Stangor, published in 2006 by Flat World Knowledge. You can purchase this book in print on online format from Flat World Publishers. Read section 2.3 of the Stangor e-textbook about the importance of characteristics like validity and reliability in evaluating what you read in the media about thinking and behavior.

Activity

Complete the following in your journal: How valid and reliable is what we read on websites? What does Stangor warn us about? Complete the following online: Find a website about Psychology (any aspect of Psychology) that you think is reliable. Post a link to that website online, tell us why you think it’s reliable, and ask your classmates if they agree. Find a website about Psychology (any aspect of Psychology) that you think is not reliable. Post a link to that website online, tell us why you think it’s not reliable, and ask your classmates if they agree.

Media

Notice that the MIT lecture contains its own version of a “myths and misconceptions” quiz, part of folk psychology. Here’s one statement from this list: “On average, playing Mozart’s music to infants boosts their intelligence.” View the following chapters: “Psychology experiments and the real world” (00:16:28) “Little things can influence behavior” (00:15:58) “Folk psychology and scientific psychology” (00:12:02)

Activity

Complete the following in your journal: Devise a descriptive research design to study that statement. What would you do? Write two paragraphs describing your basic design. Devise a correlational research design to study that statement. What would you do? Write two paragraphs describing your basic design. Devise an experimental research design to study that statement. What would you do? Write two paragraphs describing your basic design. Complete the following online: Which of your three designs do you think is strongest? Post it online for your classmates. Read designs from 3 other people. Of yours and theirs, which design is best, in your opinion? Why?