Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Scientific Approach
Most scientists today use what is known as the scientific approach, which involves forming a hypothesis, gathering data, and reporting the results of the experiment. As I read the section, the experiment of Sherman et al piqued my interest. Because I have an interest in politics, his findings on how we view the opinions of others were rather suprising. I, like many others, overestimated the beliefs of people with opposing interests. Also, because the subjects in the experiment were college students, like myself, I was able to identify with them. His findings have made me realize how very wrong I was, and I feel as though I can be more accepting of opposing views and ideas. To change the way people think about the world is the goal of psychology, and I believe that his experiments have changed the way we will view others in the future. Experiments will continue to grow in complexity in the future, which will open the door to new findings, and, more importantly, new questions.
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Dr. Frankel said...
ReplyDeleteWell written, Emily. We're often confident that we have a good fix on things and then a good experiment comes along and finds evidence that our thinking about some matter was probably off the mark. Glad to hear that you're open to new ideas based on new evidence. You'd be surprised how even college students, never mind faculty or older folks, are sometimes very reluctant to change their views of people and what makes them tick, so to speak. A psychologist once wrote that it's important to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out! Be willing to change your mind but do so only when the evidence indicates you should. You seem to have taken that to heart.
I am also somewhat in the same position as you were Emily. Often times when people express different views or different opinions, I write them off pretty quickly. However, when older folk express different views I often give in very easily or too quickly. In my situation I'm hoping to find a median where I don't write people off so easily, but I hold my ground on views that I truly believe in.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we give in to others out of deference to their age or authority but regardless of the source of an argument it's always a good idea to do your best to make a judgment about the credibility of the evidence supporting the statement or idea expressed by others rather than the person advocating one thing or another. Easier said than done, of course.
ReplyDeleteI am generally pretty open to people's ideas, whether they are older or younger. However, I do find myself in this position where I am more open an older person's view than a younger persons. With age, comes experience and also brings wisdom, so it is easier to believe someone who is believed to be more knowledgeable. However, it is important to stand your ground in something that you truly believe in. I myself have to work on being open to idea while not being to susceptible to other people's opinions.
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