Class Exercise Let’s try to explore some of these issues ourselves. I’ve created two sets of recordings. One has affirming messages embedded in it, the other has gibberish embedded in it. Let’s listen to both, and see which one makes us feel better.

Instructions We’ll listen to each of the two recordings for 5 minutes a piece. After each piece, I will ask you to indicate in your notebook whether you feel better about yourself (yes or no). Once we’ve heard both, we’ll see which one led to the higher proportion of “yes” responses.

143 YesNo Heads Tails Condition Feel Better? 17% Yes in Heads 40 total

YesNo Heads Tails Condition Feel Better? 17% Yes in Heads 22% Yes in Tails 40 total

Limitations of our approach

No counter-balancing A very brief exposure to the tapes A crude way of measuring the effectiveness of the tapes...

Subliminal Tapes The Greenwald, Spangenberg, Pratkanis, & Eskenazi (1991) Study –subliminal audiotape products claimed to improve memory and self-esteem –subjects listened to tapes designed to improve (a) memory or (b) self-esteem for 30 days –given self-esteem tests before and after the 30 day period

Some key concepts from this demonstration Experiment – a study in which participants are randomly assigned to one or more conditions. Random assignment: The probability of ending up in one condition vs. the other is Unbiased. Independent variable: The variable(s) manipulated by the researcher. It is a potential casual variable. Dependent variable: The variable(s) that we expect to change as a function of the independent variable.

Examples A researcher randomly assigns people to one of two drug conditions. The researcher measures people’s depressive symptoms two weeks later.

Examples A marital therapist randomly assigns clients to take part in a problem solving exercise or not. The therapist assesses relationship satisfaction later.

Examples A teacher assigns students with iPads to use a digital textbook for the semester. Other students are asked to use a standard paper textbook. Exam scores and attendance are cumulated at the end of the semester.

Exam 1 This Thursday Please bring a working pen/pencil Short answer

Things you should understand Understand each of the four limitations of personal experience that we discussed in class. Be able to apply those to real world and fictional examples. Understand the scientific process. What can be studied scientifically? Understand why the word “systematic” is used so much in my lectures and why the 2x2 logic is so crucial to scientific logic.

Things you should understand Understand the distinction between science and pseudoscience. Would you be able to tell them apart? Understand what Greenwald and our class learned about subliminal self-help recordings via our systematic investigations. Understand the following concepts: random assignment, independent variable, dependent variable, systematic, science, pseudoscience, confirmation bias,