Critical thinking in psychology : separating sense from nonsense

Title:

Personal Author:

Ruscio, John

Edition:

2nd ed.

Publication Information:

Belmont, CA : Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006

Physical Description:

xxix, 226 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

ISBN:

9780534634599

Subject Term:

Critical thinking

Psychology -- Study and teaching (Higher)

Available:*

Library	Item Barcode	Call Number	Material Type	Item Category 1	Status
Searching... PSZ JB	30000010234098	BF441 R87 2006	Open Access Book	Book	Searching... Unknown

Do you have the tools to distinguish between the true science of human thought and behavior from pop psychology? John Ruscio's book provides a tangible and compelling framework for making that distinction. Because we are inundated with "scientific" claims, the author does not merely differentiate science and pseudoscience, but goes further to teach the fundamentals of scientific reasoning upon which you can base your evaluation of information.

Preface	p. xiii
Challenging Widely Accepted Claims	p. xiii
Empowering Students to Evaluate Claims for Themselves	p. xv
1. Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience	p. xv
2. Teaching Scientific Reasoning Skills	p. xv
3. Using Memorable Examples	p. xvi
4. Exploring Material Relevant to Many Courses	p. xvi
Broad Coverage Is Complemented by Electronic Resources	p. xvi
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
About the Author	p. xviii
Evaluating Sources Whether in Print or on the World Wide Web	p. xix
Sharpening and Leveling	p. xx
Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of Sources	p. xxi
Popularity	p. xxi
Reviews	p. xxii
The Internet as a Research Tool	p. xxiii
The Content of Web Sites	p. xxiii
Internet Searches	p. xxiv
Thinking for Yourself	p. xxv
Chapter 1 Introduction: Pseudoscience and the Need for Clear Thinking	p. 1
Separating Sense from Nonsense	p. 3
Studying Human Reasoning	p. 3
Systematic Errors Reveal Our Mental Shortcuts	p. 4
The Pros and Cons of Relying on Shortcuts	p. 5
Thinking Clearly	p. 5
Applying the Tools of Clear Thinking	p. 6
Ten Characteristics of Pseudoscience	p. 6
1. Outward Appearance of Science	p. 6
2. Absence of Skeptical Peer Review	p. 7
3. Reliance on Personal Experience	p. 7
4. Evasion of Risky Tests	p. 8
5. Retreats to the Supernatural	p. 8
6. The Mantra of Holism	p. 8
7. Tolerance of Inconsistencies	p. 9
8. Appeals to Authority	p. 9
9. Promising the Impossible	p. 9
10. Stagnation	p. 10
The Plan of This Book	p. 10
Part 1 Deception	p. 11
Part 2 Self-Deception	p. 11
Part 3 Psychological Tricks	p. 12
Part 4 Decision Making and Ethics	p. 13
Part 1 Deception
Chapter 2 Language: Misleading and Evasive Tactics	p. 16
Weasel Words and Framing Effects	p. 16
Cooperation and Conversational Maxims	p. 20
Quality: The Myth of "Health Food"	p. 20
Quantity: Suggestive and Leading Questions	p. 21
Relation: The Irrelevant Language of "Alternative" Health Care	p. 23
Manner: The Emptiness of "Holism"	p. 25
Closing Thoughts: False Dichotomies and the Slippery Slope	p. 27
Chapter 3 Magic: The Allure of Exotic Rituals, Fantasy, and Mysticism	p. 30
Believing in Magic	p. 31
Wishful Thinking	p. 31
Belief in a Vitalistic Energy	p. 33
Putting the "Human Energy Field" to the Test	p. 34
The Creation of Superstitions and Exotic Rituals	p. 35
Superstitions as Representative Thinking	p. 37
Maintenance of Superstitions	p. 38
Abuses of Science in Favor of Mysticism	p. 39
The Magic of Modern Technology	p. 40
Chapter 4 Authority: Appeals to Blind Obedience	p. 42
Milgram's Obedience Research	p. 42
Understanding Milgram's Results	p. 45
When Should We Obey?	p. 46
Untrustworthy Authorities	p. 47
The "Ancient Wisdom" Fallacy	p. 47
The Popularity Fallacy	p. 48
The Fallacy of Self-Proclaimed Expertise	p. 48
Political Lobbying as a Warning Flag	p. 50
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine	p. 50
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act	p. 52
Part 2 Self-Deception
Chapter 5 Experience: The Limitations of Testimonials as Evidence	p. 56
Self-Deception	p. 57
Competing Explanations	p. 58
The Placebo Effect	p. 58
Spontaneous Remission	p. 60
The Disease Ran Its Natural Course	p. 60
The Cyclical Nature of Many Diseases	p. 61
Misdiagnosis	p. 61
The "Worried Well"	p. 61
Symptomatic Relief	p. 62
Hedged Bets	p. 62
Derivative Benefits	p. 62
Psychological Distortion of Reality	p. 63
The Bottom Line	p. 64
Probabilistic General Principles	p. 65
Chapter 6 Plausibility: All Beliefs Are Not Created Equal	p. 68
Magnet Therapy: Claims Versus Reality	p. 69
Magnets and Water	p. 70
Magnets and the Human Body	p. 71
The Strength of "Therapeutic" Magnets	p. 71
Homeopathy: Empty Promises	p. 72
The Law of Similars	p. 72
The Law of Infinitesimals	p. 73
Evasive Maneuver #1 Lowering the Dilution Factor	p. 74
Evasive Maneuver #2 "Water Memory"	p. 74
Alien Abductions: A Modern-Day Misunderstanding	p. 75
The Contamination Effect	p. 75
Dull Fantasies and Contradictions	p. 77
Sleep Paralysis	p. 78
Chapter 7 Association: Establishing and Interpreting Correlations	p. 80
Presuming an Association Through Mere Examples	p. 82
Presuming an Association Through a Lone Rate	p. 83
Interpreting a Correlation	p. 84
Causal Relationships Between Correlated Events	p. 84
Three Conditions for Causality	p. 85
Examining Patterns Across Multiple Correlations	p. 86
Beware the Media	p. 88
Do Horoscopes Predict Anything?	p. 90
Chapter 8 Science: Evaluating Claims to Knowledge	p. 92
Scientific Reasoning	p. 93
Falsifiability	p. 93
Logic	p. 94
Comprehensiveness	p. 95
Honesty	p. 95
Replicability	p. 96
Sufficiency	p. 97
Antiscientific Beliefs: Postmodernism and Other Fallacious Ideas	p. 98
Postmodernism	p. 98
The "What Works Is Different for Everybody" Fallacy	p. 101
The "Probability Is Irrelevant to the Unique Individual" Fallacy	p. 102
The Rejection of Science as a Pseudoscientist's Dream	p. 103
Part 3 Psychological Tricks
Chapter 9 Risk: Biased Perceptions and the Media Paradox	p. 106
Vividness	p. 106
Availability	p. 108
The Media Paradox	p. 109
Falling Airplane Parts Revisited	p. 111
A Radical Conjecture	p. 112
Mindful Attention to Media Reports	p. 113
Chapter 10 Belief: Confirmation Bias, Post-Hockery, and Overconfidence	p. 115
Discovery Versus Verification: The Importance of Prediction	p. 116
The Bible Code	p. 116
The "Hot Hand" in Basketball	p. 118
Confirmation Bias	p. 120
The Rorschach Ink Blot Test	p. 121
Graphology: Handwriting Analysis	p. 122
Polygraphy: The "Lie Detector" Test	p. 122
Absent or Misleading Feedback	p. 125
Hindsight Bias and Overconfidence	p. 126
Foiling Post-Hockery	p. 127
Answers to the Confidence Quiz	p. 128
Chapter 11 Schemes: The Seductiveness of Grand Conspiracy Theories	p. 129
The Three Roles in a Conspiracy Theory	p. 129
Conspirators	p. 129
Saviors	p. 130
Dupes	p. 130
A Grand Conspiracy Theory: "Area 51"	p. 131
The Role of the Media	p. 131
Thinking Clearly About Area 51	p. 132
Problems Facing Any Grand Conspiracy Theory	p. 133
The "Hidden Cure" Conspiracy	p. 134
Intense Competition Is Ignored	p. 135
The Alleged Profit Motive Makes No Sense	p. 135
Science Is Never Going to Cure All Disease	p. 136
Monumental Callousness Is Presumed	p. 136
Why Does the Theory of Hidden Cures Persist?	p. 137
Challenging Conspiracies	p. 138
Chapter 12 Illusions: The Perception of Control	p. 140
The Illusion of Control	p. 141
The Certainty Effect	p. 142
The Dangers of Illusions of Control	p. 143
Belief in the "Just World" and the Blaming of Victims	p. 143
Self-Blame	p. 144
Learned Helplessness	p. 145
The Downside to Mental Imagery	p. 145
The "Choose to Be Healthy" Fallacy	p. 146
Prayer and Religion-Motivated Medical Neglect	p. 148
Part 4 Decision Making and Ethics
Chapter 13 Assessment: Classical Decision Theory	p. 152
Mammograms	p. 154
Classical Decision Theory	p. 155
The Impact of Low Base Rates	p. 156
Lie Detection	p. 157
Two Different Perspectives on Accuracy	p. 158
The Impact of Selection Ratios	p. 159
Nutritional Scams	p. 160
Validity	p. 160
Base Rates	p. 161
Selection Ratio	p. 162
Protecting Against Professional Misconduct	p. 163
Chapter 14 Decisions: Clinical Versus Statistical Approaches	p. 165
Two Approaches to Decision Making	p. 166
Why Is the Statistical Approach Superior?	p. 167
Validity	p. 168
Units of Measurement	p. 168
Reliability	p. 169
Redundancy	p. 170
Regression Effects	p. 171
Adherence to the Clinical Approach	p. 172
Knowledge Deficit	p. 172
Fear of Computers	p. 172
Fear of Unemployment	p. 173
Belief in the Efficacy of One's Judgment	p. 173
Theoretical Identifications	p. 174
The "Dehumanizing" Feel of Statistical Equations	p. 175
Mistaken Conception of Ethics	p. 175
Embracing Statistical Decisions	p. 176
Pro/Con Lists	p. 176
Professional Practice	p. 176
Statistics Do Apply to the Individual	p. 178
Chapter 15 Ethics: The Use and Promotion of Unverified Treatments	p. 179
Overlooking the Obvious in Favor of the Unlikely	p. 179
Repressed Memories and Multiple Personalities	p. 180
Cost-Benefit Ratio	p. 186
Skewed Projections of Benefit and Harm	p. 186
The Overlooked Opportunity Costs	p. 187
Truly Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy	p. 188
The "Health Freedom" Fallacy	p. 190
Chapter 16 Tools: Suggestions for Clear Thinking	p. 192
The Dangers of a Pseudoscientific Approach to Health Care	p. 194
Thinking Clearly	p. 195
Reconceptualize Issues in Multiple Ways	p. 195
Beware of Wishful Thinking	p. 196
Consider the Legitimacy of Authorities	p. 196
Seek Risky Tests, Not Weak Confirmation	p. 196
Don't Be Misled by Testimonials	p. 196
Keep in Touch with Reality	p. 197
Remember That Correlation Does Not Imply Causation	p. 197
Beware the Media Paradox	p. 197
Formulate Multiple Working Hypotheses	p. 198
Ask What Can Be Predicted	p. 198
Challenge Conspiracy Theories	p. 198
Watch Out for Illusions of Control	p. 198
Be Careful Not to Blame Victims	p. 199
Consider Both Positive and Negative Consequences of a Claim	p. 199
Pay Attention to Base Rates	p. 199
Accept Some Mistakes in Order to Minimize Error	p. 199
Take Advantage of the Power of Statistical Decision Making	p. 200
Don't Misinterpret Regression Toward the Mean	p. 200
Consider Both Costs and Benefits	p. 200
Practice Scientific Reasoning	p. 201
A Closing Thought on Wishful Thinking	p. 201
References	p. 203
Index	p. 217

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