Good points Mike. I find it interesting how people, their work and
their ideas are represented in the popular media. Recently, there was
news about research that created a kind of out-of-the-body experience
and these folks were apparently neuroscientists. Is this work
psychology, S&P, cognitive, or neuroscience or all of the above?
Clearly, some of this work can be relevant to several fields but its
public presentation is governed by other issues. Gigerenzer may call
himself *- or was it just the writer? a social psychologist, but I
doubt if anyone would say "social scientist" as this seems less popular
than cognitive scientist, social cognition, etc. The self-perceived
demarcation of different fields, as well as how those fields have been
extended is fascinating. Would any of these authors just describe
themselves as psychologists or research psychologists? Probably not.
The blurb itself and Gigerenzer's interview, struck me just as an
effort to sell books. He saw someone referencing him and making good
money with Blink, and he wanted to get on that train. I don't fault him
for that. But as you noted, he was apparently not as concerned about
the clarity of the language he uses in the interview. Many researchers
and authors may be a bit removed from the challenges teachers face in
helping students appreciate conceptual distinctions. Gary
Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI 48710
989-964-4491
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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