Critical Thinking in Psychology

by Edited by Robert J. Sternberg , Henry L. Roediger III , Diane F. Halpern

• ISBN13: 9780521608343
• ISBN10: 0521608341
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-25
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Good scientific research depends on critical thinking at least as much as factual knowledge; psychology is no exception to this rule. And yet, despite the importance of critical thinking, psychology students are rarely taught how to think critically about the theories, methods, and concepts they must use. This book is an introductory text on critical thinking for upper level undergraduates and graduate students. It shows students how to think critically about key topics such as experimental research, statistical inference, case studies, logical fallacies, and ethical judgments.

Table of Contents

1. The nature and nurture of critical thinking Diane F. Halpern

2. Evaluating experimental research: critical issues Henry L. Roediger III and David P. McCabe

3. Evaluating quasi-experimentation William Shadish

4. Evaluating surveys and questionnaires Norbert Schwarz

5. Critical thinking in designing and analyzing research Robert J. Sternberg and Elena Grigorenko

6. The case study perspective on psychological research Randi Martin and Rachel Hull

7. Informal logical fallacies Jane Risen and Thomas Gilovich

8. Designing studies to avoid confounds Kathleen McDermott and Gregory E. Miller

9. Evaluating theories Simon Dennis and Walter Kintsch

10. Not all experiments are created equal: on conducting and reporting persuasive experiments Mark Zanna

11. Making claims in papers and talks Barbara A. Spellman, Judy DeLoache and Robert A. Bjork

12. Critical thinking in clinical inference Thomas Oltmanns and E. David Klonsky

13. Evaluating parapsychological claims Ray Hyman

14. Why would anyone do or believe such a thing?: a social influence analysis Anthony R. Pratkanis

15. The belief machine David K. Schneider

16. Critical thinking and ethics in psychology Celia B. Fisher, Adam L. Fried and Jessica K. Masty

17. Critical thinking in psychology: it really is critical Robert J. Sternberg

Index.