How to Think Straight About Psychology by Keith E. Stanovich (2012-09-19)

Teaching students to become better consumers of psychological research. Keith Stanovich's widely used and highly acclaimed book presents a short introduction to the critical thinking skills that will help students to better understand the subject matter of psychology. How to Think Straight about Psychology, 10e helps students recognize pseudoscience and be able to distinguish it from true psychological research, aiding students to become more discriminating consumers of psychological information. Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers should be able to: Evaluate psychological claims they encounter in the general media. Distinguish between pseudoscience and true psychological research. Apply psychological knowledge to better understand events in the world around them. Preface 1sychology is alive and well (and doing fine among the sciences) Falsifiability : how to foil little green men in the head Operationism and essentialism : but, doctor, what does it really mean? Testimonials and case study evidence : placebo effects and the amazing randi Correlation and causation : birth control by the toaster method Getting things under control : the case of clever hans "But it's not real life!" : the "artificiality" criticism and psychology Avoiding the einstein syndrome : the importance of converging evidence The misguided search for the "magic bullet" : the issue of multiple causation The role of chance in psychology References Name index Subject index. This title focuses on applying critical thinking techniques to standard concepts in psychology and teaches students to recognise and critically appraise pseudoscience