How to Think Straight

Ho to !hin" Straight A#o$t Psychology %sy 9)( In your courses in the psychology program you learned about some specific things that we know about why people do what they do, and you learned about some methods that psychologists use to establish that knowledge. The specifics aren't as important as the general ways of thinking about behavior that we hope you have picked up in your coursework. Whether you recognize it or not, you should have changed the way that you respond to claims about the things that people do. You You should have at least begun beg un to think  like a psychologist. eith !tanovich's book "#ow to Think !traight $bout %sychology" is a wonderful summary of some of the most important dispositions of psychologists. &ach chapter contrasts a casual, uninformed way of thinking about behavior with the more formal and well organized thinking of an effective psychologist these are all summarized nicely for you in a list on pages p ages ()* and ()+. This is the kind k ind of thinking we hope you will reflect in your !enior !eminar pro-ect, as you describe and evaluate eplanations of some  behaviors that interest you. %lease be sure to think about these as you do your reading and writing, and be on the lookout for applications to your work. Preface (. /n page i i !tanovich !tanovich writes writes that that the discipl discipline ine of psychol psychology ogy is "a body of knowledge that is unknown to most people". What is his point here0 1. /n page  !tanovi !tanovich ch notes some "unfort "unfortunate unate side side effect effects" s" to the the 2334+33 2334+33 page introductory psychology tet crammed full of facts about psychology. What are those side effects0

 Much of the preface is an argument argument for the importance of developing critical thinking  skills with which to evaluate claims about psychology. Why is it important for you,  personally, to to develop those skills? What difference will will it make to your future life, life, both  professional and personal? Chapter One - Psychology is Alive and Well (and Doing Fine Among the Sciences) (. What What is is "the "the 5reud 5reud pro probl blem em"0 "0 1. /n page 2 !tanovich !tanovich writes writes that that "%sychology "%sychology is diff difference erence from from other other behavioral behavioral fields in that it attempts to give the public two guarantees". What are these two guarantees0 6escribe them in your own words, being sure to eplain how they differ from each other. 7ive eamples of coursework you have do ne that was intended to help you to meet these "guarantees". 8. /n page + !tanovich !tanovich lists lists two two things things that science science is not, not, and three three things things that define define science. What are these0 &plain why each is important. 9. /n page (94(: (94(: !tanovich !tanovich discusses discusses cultur cultural al beliefs beliefs and research research about about the import importance ance of teenagers' early work eperiences. What are the cultural beliefs0 What did the research show0 Which should you believe0 What other eamples does he give p. (:4 (2; there are three more0

 In this chapter, Stanovich argues for a psychology supported by scientific research. How do you suppose you might find yourself using results of specific psychological research in  your future life, again, both professional and personal? Chapter !o - Falsifia#ility (. /n page () !tanovich tells a story about the reasoning of 6octor uestion of whether or not portacaval shunts were an effective treatment for cirrhosis of the liver. #ow did those types of research differ0 What is the point !tanovich is making here0

#n page 23 Stanovich e"plains !control! very clearly. 4ind the paragraph in which he does this, and put it into your own words. Chapter , - .$t /t0s 1ot 2eal 3ife4 (. /n pages (3( and following !tanovich talks about 6ouglas Aook's eplanation of the kinds of research goals in which random samples are important and those in which such samples are not important. When is a random sample important, according to Aook0

1. What is the "Bollege !ophomore %roblem" p. (3+0 #ow does !tanovich feel about it0 he entire point of this chapter is that artificial !laboratory! situations are better than natural situations if the goal is to !yield e"planations a bout the nature of the world! 'p. ))+. How can that be? Chapter 5 - Avoiding the &instein Syndrome 1. This entire chapter is about two competing beliefs about science. What are those  beliefs0 Which does !tanovich want us to hold0 2. What does !tanovich think is the reason why so many people hold the wrong belief about this0 3. What is the "connectivity principle"0 What is the "gradual synthesis model"0 What is "converging evidence"0 4. /n page (12, !tanovich talks about "the progression to more powerful methods". 6escribe this progression0 What kinds of methods do researchers use first0 What kinds do they use later0

#n page (5* Stanovich talks about a situation in which psychologists presented e"pert testimony in a trial in which a rock group was accused of driving two b oys to suicide. In  your own words, e"plain what happened with the e"pert testimony in that trial, and how the researcher 'imothy Moore+ feels about the outcome. Chapter 6 - !he 7isg$ided Search for the 7agic .$llet (. $t the end of the first paragraph in this chapter, !tanovich writes "