Begin by participating in one of the psychological research studies provided from the links in the resources. The first resource includes a link to historical and landmark research studies in the field of psychology. The second includes current studies that are being conducted within the field of social psychology. The third and final link is to a listing of the top 10 psychology experiments in a wide variety of areas within the field of psychology.
After selecting a study and participating in it, see if you can discuss how this study meets the criteria for the scientific method. What were the key ingredients?
Include a description of what the word pseudoscience means, and provide an example of this type of finding from a research study within the field of psychology or another related field. Briefly detail why this study does not meet the criteria for science and what steps were overlooked, along with some discussion regarding why the results are not readily accepted within the larger scientific community. Where is the flaw in the method, logic, or conclusions of the study? What, if anything, could you do to remedy this – for example, how might you make the method more scientific and/or provide conclusions that are more logical and scientific?
Length: 2-3 pages with references included at the bottom
Resources:
- Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience in School Psychology: Science and Scientific Thinking as Safeguards Against Human ErrorLilienfeld, S. O., Ammirati, R., & David, M. (2012). Distinguishing science from pseudoscience in school psychology: Science and scientific thinking as safeguards against human error. Journal of School Psychology, 50(1), 7–36.
- Hauntings, Homeopathy, and the Hopkinsville Goblins: Using Pseudoscience to Teach Scientific ThinkingSchmaltz, R., & Lilienfeld, S. (2014, April). Hauntings, homeopathy, and the Hopkinsville Goblins: Using pseudoscience to teach scientific thinking. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
- Identifying Pseudoscience: A Social Process CriterionDawes, G. W. (2018). Identifying pseudoscience: A social process criterion. Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 49(3), 283-298.
- Illusions of Causality at the Heart of PseudoscienceMatute, H., Yarritu, I., & Vadillo, M. A. (2011). Illusions of causality at the heart of pseudoscience. British Journal of Psychology, 102(3), 392–405.
- IntroductionPsyToolkit.com. (n.d.). Introduction. Author.
This link will take you to famous experiments in psychology that you can participate in to get a sense of what it is like first hand. - Judgment and Decision MakingSocial Psychology Network. (2020). Judgment and decision making. Author.
This link will take you to a listing of research studies that you can participate in within the realm of cognitive and social psychology. - Science vs. Silliness for Parents: Debunking the Myths of Child PsychologyHupp, S., Stary, A., & Jewell, J. (2017). Science vs. silliness for parents: Debunking the myths of child psychology. Skeptical Inquirer, 41(1), 44-47.
- Scott Lillenfeld: Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology: Yesterday and TodayLillenfeld, S. (2008, January 1). Scott Lillenfeld: Science and pseudoscience in clinical psychology: Yesterday and today [Video file]. The Cumming Center for the History of Psychology.
- What is Pseudoscience?Shermer, M. (2011, September 1). What is Pseudoscience? Scientific American.
- PsycLearn Research MethodsPsycLearn Research Methods Version 1.4 (2020). CogBooks, American Psychological Association.
References: Include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources in your answer.