1. Psychology in Action Psychology in the News- Separating Fact from Fiction

2. How good is psychological information found in popular media? Psychology is a popular topic in magazines and newspapers. Unfortunately, much of what you will read is based on wishful thinking rather than science. Here are some suggestions for separating high- quality information from misleading fiction.

3. Suggestion 1: Be skeptical. Reports in the popular press tends to be made uncritically and with a definite bias toward reporting “astonishing” findings. Remember, saying, “That’s incredible” means, “That’s not believable” - which is often true.

4. Suggestion 2: Consider the source of information. It should come as no surprise that information used to sell a product often reflects a desire for profit rather than the objective truth. Example: “Government tests prove that no pain reliever is stronger or more effective than Brand X aspirin.” Do you think that they are telling the truth or trying to convince you to buy their product?

5. Suggestion 3: Ask yourself if there was a control group. A control group is the group who is not given the treatment. The key importance of a control group in any experiment is frequently overlooked by the unsophisticated - an error to which you are no longer susceptible! The popular press is full of reports of “experiments” performed without control groups: “Talking to Plants Speed Growth” or “Special Diet Controls Hyperactivity in Children.”

6. Suggestion 4: Look for errors in distinguishing between correlation and causation. As you know now, it is dangerous to presume that one thing caused another just because they are correlated. In spite of this, you will see many claims based on questionable correlation. Example: A high crime rate is more frequent, when ice cream sales increases.

7. Suggestion 5: Be sure to distinguish between observation and inference. If you see a person crying is it correct to assume that she or he is sad ? Although it seems reasonable to make this assumption, it is actually quite risky. We can observe objectively that the person is crying, but to infer sadness may be in error. What are some other reasons why this person might be crying?

8. Suggestion 6: Beware of over- simplifications, especially those motivated by monetary gain. Courses or programs that offer a “new personality in three sessions,” “six steps to love and fulfillment in marriage,” or newly discovered “secrets of unlocking the powers of the mind” should be immediately suspect.

9. Suggestion 7: Remember, “for example” is not proof. After reading the first chapter, you should be sensitive to the danger of selecting single examples. If you read, “A college student passes Psychology 1A course using sleep-learning device,” don’t rush out to buy one Research has shown that these devices are of little or no value.

10. Summary We are all bombarded daily with such a mass of new information that it is difficult to absorb it. The available knowledge even in a limited area like psychology is so vast that no single person can completely know and comprehend it. With this situation in mind, it becomes a critical, selective, and informed consumer of information.