| Description |
xxv, 220 pages ; 23 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-215) and index. |
| Contents |
Empowering Students to Evaluate Claims for Themselves xv -- 1. Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience xv -- 2. Teaching Scientific Reasoning Skills xv -- 3. Using Memorable Examples xvi -- 4. Exploring Material Relevant to Many Courses xvi -- Broad Coverage Is Complemented by Electronic Resources xvi -- Evaluating Sources Whether in Print or on the World Wide Web xix -- Sharpening and Leveling xx -- Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of Sources xxi -- Popularity xxi -- Internet as a Research Tool xxiii -- Content of Web Sites xxiii -- Internet Searches xxiv -- Thinking for Yourself xxv -- Chapter 1 Introduction: Pseudoscience and the Need for Clear Thinking 1 -- Separating Sense from Nonsense 3 -- Studying Human Reasoning 3 -- Systematic Errors Reveal Our Mental Shortcuts 4 -- Pros and Cons of Relying on Shortcuts 5 -- Thinking Clearly 5 -- Applying the Tools of Clear Thinking 6 -- Ten Characteristics of Pseudoscience 6 -- 1. Outward Appearance of Science 6 -- 2. Absence of Skeptical Peer Review 7 -- 3. Reliance on Personal Experience 7 -- 4. Evasion of Risky Tests 8 -- 5. Retreats to the Supernatural 8 -- 6. Mantra of Holism 8 -- 7. Tolerance of Inconsistencies 9 -- 8. Appeals to Authority 9 -- 9. Promising the Impossible 9 -- 10. Stagnation 10 -- Part 1 Deception 11 -- Part 2 Self-Deception 11 -- Part 3 Psychological Tricks 12 -- Part 4 Decision Making and Ethics 13 -- Part 1 Deception -- Chapter 2 Language: Misleading and Evasive Tactics 16 -- Weasel Words and Framing Effects 16 -- Cooperation and Conversational Maxims 20 -- Quality: The Myth of "Health Food" 20 -- Quantity: Suggestive and Leading Questions 21 -- Relation: The Irrelevant Language of "Alternative" Health Care 23 -- Manner: The Emptiness of "Holism" 25 -- Closing Thoughts: False Dichotomies and the Slippery Slope 27 -- Chapter 3 Magic: The Allure of Exotic Rituals, Fantasy, and Mysticism 30 -- Believing in Magic 31 -- Wishful Thinking 31 -- Belief in a Vitalistic Energy 33 -- Putting the "Human Energy Field" to the Test 34 -- Creation of Superstitions and Exotic Rituals 35 -- Superstitions as Representative Thinking 37 -- Maintenance of Superstitions 38 -- Abuses of Science in Favor of Mysticism 39 -- Magic of Modern Technology 40 -- Chapter 4 Authority: Appeals to Blind Obedience 42 -- Milgram's Obedience Research 42 -- Understanding Milgram's Results 45 -- When Should We Obey? 46 -- Untrustworthy Authorities 47 -- "Ancient Wisdom" Fallacy 47 -- Popularity Fallacy 48 -- Fallacy of Self-Proclaimed Expertise 48 -- Political Lobbying as a Warning Flag 50 -- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 50 -- Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act 52 -- Part 2 Self-Deception -- Chapter 5 Experience: The Limitations of Testimonials as Evidence 56 -- Self-Deception 57 -- Competing Explanations 58 -- Placebo Effect 58 -- Spontaneous Remission 60 -- Disease Ran Its Natural Course 60 -- Cyclical Nature of Many Diseases 61 -- Misdiagnosis 61 -- "Worried Well" 61 -- Symptomatic Relief 62 -- Hedged Bets 62 -- Derivative Benefits 62 -- Psychological Distortion of Reality 63 -- Bottom Line 64 -- Probabilistic General Principles 65 -- Chapter 6 Plausibility: All Beliefs Are Not Created Equal 68 -- Magnet Therapy: Claims Versus Reality 69 -- Magnets and Water 70 -- Magnets and the Human Body 71 -- Strength of "Therapeutic" Magnets 71 -- Homeopathy: Empty Promises 72 -- Law of Similars 72 -- Law of Infinitesimals 73 -- Evasive Maneuver #1 Lowering the Dilution Factor 74 -- Evasive Maneuver #2 "Water Memory" 74 -- Alien Abductions: A Modern-Day Misunderstanding 75 -- Contamination Effect 75 -- Dull Fantasies and Contradictions 77 -- Sleep Paralysis 78 -- Chapter 7 Association: Establishing and Interpreting Correlations 80 -- Presuming an Association Through Mere Examples 82 -- Presuming an Association Through a Lone Rate 83 -- Interpreting a Correlation 84 -- Causal Relationships Between Correlated Events 84 -- Three Conditions for Causality 85 -- Examining Patterns Across Multiple Correlations 86 -- Beware the Media 88 -- Do Horoscopes Predict Anything? 90 -- Chapter 8 Science: Evaluating Claims to Knowledge 92 -- Scientific Reasoning 93 -- Falsifiability 93 -- Logic 94 -- Comprehensiveness 95 -- Honesty 95 -- Replicability 96 -- Sufficiency 97 -- Antiscientific Beliefs: Postmodernism and Other Fallacious Ideas 98 -- Postmodernism 98 -- "What Works Is Different for Everybody" Fallacy 101 -- "Probability Is Irrelevant to the Unique Individual" Fallacy 102 -- Rejection of Science as a Pseudoscientist's Dream 103 -- Part 3 Psychological Tricks -- Chapter 9 Risk: Biased Perceptions and the Media Paradox 106 -- Vividness 106 -- Availability 108 -- Media Paradox 109 -- Falling Airplane Parts Revisited 111 -- A Radical Conjecture 112 -- Mindful Attention to Media Reports 113 -- Chapter 10 Belief: Confirmation Bias, Post-Hockery, and Overconfidence 115 -- Discovery Versus Verification: The Importance of Prediction 116 -- Bible Code 116 -- "Hot Hand" in Basketball 118 -- Confirmation Bias 120 -- Rorschach Ink Blot Test 121 -- Graphology: Handwriting Analysis 122 -- Polygraphy: The "Lie Detector" Test 122 -- Absent or Misleading Feedback 125 -- Hindsight Bias and Overconfidence 126 -- Foiling Post-Hockery 127 -- Answers to the Confidence Quiz 128 -- Chapter 11 Schemes: The Seductiveness of Grand Conspiracy Theories 129 -- Three Roles in a Conspiracy Theory 129 -- Conspirators 129 -- Saviors 130 -- Dupes 130 -- A Grand Conspiracy Theory: "Area 51" 131 -- Role of the Media 131 -- Thinking Clearly About Area 51 132 -- Problems Facing Any Grand Conspiracy Theory 133 -- "Hidden Cure" Conspiracy 134 -- Intense Competition Is Ignored 135 -- Alleged Profit Motive Makes No Sense 135 -- Science Is Never Going to Cure All Disease 136 -- Monumental Callousness Is Presumed 136 -- Why Does the Theory of Hidden Cures Persist? 137 -- Challenging Conspiracies 138 -- Chapter 12 Illusions: The Perception of Control 140 -- Illusion of Control 141 -- Certainty Effect 142 -- Dangers of Illusions of Control 143 -- Belief in the "Just World" and the Blaming of Victims 143 -- Self-Blame 144 -- Learned Helplessness 145 -- Downside to Mental Imagery 145 -- "Choose to Be Healthy" Fallacy 146 -- Prayer and Religion-Motivated Medical Neglect 148 -- Part 4 Decision Making and Ethics -- Chapter 13 Assessment: Classical Decision Theory 152 -- Mammograms 154 -- Classical Decision Theory 155 -- Impact of Low Base Rates 156 -- Lie Detection 157 -- Two Different Perspectives on Accuracy 158 -- Impact of Selection Ratios 159 -- Nutritional Scams 160 -- Validity 160 -- Base Rates 161 -- Selection Ratio 162 -- Protecting Against Professional Misconduct 163 -- Chapter 14 Decisions: Clinical Versus Statistical Approaches 165 -- Two Approaches to Decision Making 166 -- Why Is the Statistical Approach Superior? 167 -- Validity 168 -- Units of Measurement 168 -- Reliability 169 -- Redundancy 170 -- Regression Effects 171 -- Adherence to the Clinical Approach 172 -- Knowledge Deficit 172 -- Fear of Computers 172 -- Fear of Unemployment 173 -- Belief in the Efficacy of One's Judgment 173 -- Theoretical Identifications 174 -- "Dehumanizing" Feel of Statistical Equations 175 -- Mistaken Conception of Ethics 175 -- Embracing Statistical Decisions 176 -- Pro/Con Lists 176 -- Professional Practice 176 -- Statistics Do Apply to the Individual 178 -- Chapter 15 Ethics: The Use and Promotion of Unverified Treatments 179 -- Overlooking the Obvious in Favor of the Unlikely 179 -- Repressed Memories and Multipleg Personalities 180 -- Cost-Benefit Ratio 186 -- Skewed Projections of Benefit and Harm 186 -- Overlooked Opportunity Costs 187 -- Truly Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy 188 -- "Health Freedom" Fallacy 190 -- Chapter 16 Tools: Suggestions for Clear Thinking 192 -- Dangers of a Pseudoscientific Approach to Health Care 194 -- Thinking Clearly 195 -- Reconceptualize Issues in Multiple Ways 195 -- Beware of Wishful Thinking 196 -- Consider the Legitimacy of Authorities 196 -- Seek Risky Tests, Not Weak Confirmation 196 -- Don't Be Misled by Testimonials 196 -- Keep in Touch with Reality 197 -- Remember That Correlation Does Not Imply Causation 197 -- Beware the Media Paradox 197 -- Formulate Multiple Working Hypotheses 198 -- Ask What Can Be Predicted 198 -- Challenge Conspiracy Theories 198 -- Watch Out for Illusions of Control 198 -- Be Careful Not to Blame Victims 199 -- Consider Both Positive and Negative Consequences of a Claim 199 -- Pay Attention to Base Rates 199 -- Accept Some Mistakes in Order to Minimize Error 199 -- Take Advantage of the Power of Statistical Decision Making 200 -- Don't Misinterpret Regression Toward the Mean 200 -- Consider Both Costs and Benefits 200 -- Practice Scientific Reasoning 201 -- A Closing Thought on Wishful Thinking 201. |
| Subject |
Psychology -- Study and teaching (Higher)
|
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Psychology -- Study and teaching (Higher)
(OCoLC)fst01081544
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| Other Form: |
Online version: Ruscio, John. Clear thinking with psychology. Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning, ©2002 (OCoLC)988772521 |
| ISBN |
053453659X (alk. paper) |
|
9780534536596 (alk. paper) |
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