Rod- You state that, "There would be great practical usefulness for understanding more about religiosity and human behavior." However, you neglect to state what the utility would be. Certainly it would NOT be useful to direct people to become religious (or non-religious) based on findings that the groups differed on some dependent measure. You certainly wouldn't want to suggest, for example, that we tell people to stop being religious if the data show that "religiostity" is negatively correlated with coping, or racism, or any other variable. As well, it would NOT be useful to try to extrapolate from group data to the individual. You certainly wouldn't want to suggest, for example, that we predict that Person X is able to cope (or is a racist) based on a finding that shows that large numbers of people who share his or her values re religiosty are more likely to act that way.
So I'll ask again - What do you see as the practical outcome of such research? Some specific examples would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, -Don. Rod Hetzel wrote: > Don: > > There would be great practical usefulness for understanding more about > religiosity and human behavior. You would need to have variables that > have a much better operational definition than "theistic" or > "atheistic." It would be difficult (if not impossible) to do random > assignment with some of these designs, but useful studies could still be > conducted. A study doesn't have to use an experimental design in order > to be of any value. That being said, however, there is a growing body > of quasi-experimental studies looking at the role of religious variables > in different clinical situations (which includes some interesting > clinical trial research). Check out any of the psychology of religion > texts (such as the ones by Pargment or Paloutzian) to get a good idea of > some of the research that has already been done in this area. > > Rod > > ______________________________________________ > Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. > Assistant Professor of Psychology > LeTourneau University > President-Elect, Division 51 > American Psychological Association > > Department of Psychology > LeTourneau University > Post Office Box 7001 > 2100 South Mobberly Avenue > Longview, Texas 75607-7001 > > Office: Heath-Hardwick Hall 115 > Phone: 903-233-3312 > Fax: 903-233-3246 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Homepage: http://www.letu.edu/people/rodhetzel > > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Allen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 1:24 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: Religious coping > > Rod Hetzel wrote in part: > > "So, leaving the antagonistic comments and personal agendas behind us, > what can we as psychologists contribute to the discussion of religion > and human behavior. I have some potential questions for us to address: > Are there specific variables that would predict prosocial versus > antisocial behaviors among theists and atheists? Are there certain > variables that would predict prososical behavior among theists but not > atheists (or among atheists but not theists)? Are there certain > variables that would predict antisocial behavior among theists but not > atheists (or among atheists but not theists)? Are differences between > theists and atheists in how they cope with stress?" > > I have to wonder what would be the value of these "preditcor variables", > even if we could find them. Certainly no one could calim that there was > a causal relationship between religion and prosocial behaviour based on > such a correlation alone and I can't envision an experiment where people > are randonly assigned to the "theist" or "atheist" conditions. As for > predicting the likelihood of antisocial (or prosocial) behaviour based > on theist belief I'm sure that the variablity among subjects would be so > large that making specific predictions about specific individuals would > be fruitless. Regarding differences in "coping with stress", well that > seems to be a tautological nightmare. If you define a "good coper" as > someone who accepts god's will then the theists will, by definition , be > bound to be better. > > What do you see as the practical outcome of such research? > > All the best, > > -Don. > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/2002 > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/2002 > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
