1. Evaluating psychological research
Chapter 2:5
Evaluating psychological research

2. Lesson # 9
Objective(s): Identify flaws in research designs and how to correct them. Identify skills for evaluating psychological claims in the popular media.
Agenda: Bellwork, 2.5 notes, discussion
Bellwork:
What are some ways you can evaluate claims in a scientific manner?
1-rule out other hypothesis
2-falsiablity
3-correlation vs causation
4-replicability
5-extraordinary claims
6-occams razor

3. Peer review When articles, or studies, are subjected to outside review
Purpose is to identify flaws in the study that could undermine the findings
Suggest how to better conduct studies in the future

4. Evaluating psychology in the media
Consider the source
Primary sources are more trustworthy than secondary sources
Sharpening and Leveling
Sharpening is a tendency to exaggerate the central message of a study
Leveling is a tendency to minimize details of a study
Pseudo symmetry-creating the appearance of balanced coverage or creating a controversy where none exists