Not being a sports fan or a person who has much of a portfolio, I
thought I would ask a few questions about teaching psychology--simple
questions that probably have no simple answers.

Do you attempt to discuss notions of causality in introductory
psychology? If you do, how do you go about it? What problems have you
run into?

I ask these questions because it has become very clear to me that
students don't understand or are frustrated with the probabilistic
statements we usually make in psychology regarding the causes of the
phenomena we discuss. Thus, I have begun to incorporate an explicit
discussion of causality right at the beginning of the course in order to
reduce the confusion and frustration. But I have found that it is not a
simple matter to discuss causality simply.

Any insights?

Jeff

--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D.          Office Phone:  (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd.            FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department            [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ  85256-2626

Listowner: Psychologists Educating Students to Think Skeptically (PESTS)

http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/sbscience/pests/index.html



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