I think critical thinking is evidenced most clearly when we look critically at research that supports our own biases. It is easy to find flaws in research that violates our cherished assumptions. We tend to be friendlier with research that supports them. That is why I would think it is especially important to model critical investigation of research findings that fit easily within our worldview. Students who hold different opinions will not be persuaded when we overlook methodological concerns of results that favor our views.
That doesn't preclude us from noting that support from various sources using different methods leads us to draw certain conclusions. For example, there has never been a study demonstrating through random assignment to groups that human beings who smoke are more likely to develop lung cancer. This is based entirely on epidemiological (correlational) studies of humans and cause-effect studies of animal models and biological studies. These taken in combination allow for the conclusion that smoking causes cancer in humans. People generally need to make decisions based on research that is flawed to some extent in terms of internal validity and extraneous variables. They should realize both the strengths and limitations of that research. And, for some, the research will be irrelevant. They will believe that, no matter the pragmatic outcome, spanking is wrong or right for ethical reasons. Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor of Psychology Box 3055 John Brown University 2000 W. University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 [email protected] (479)524-7295 http://tinyurl.com/DrFroman Forwarding any part of this e-mail to the White House is strictly prohibited. -----Original Message----- From: Joan Warmbold [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:02 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: [tips] Early Spankings Make for Aggressive Toddlers, Study Shows - Yahoo! News Sorry but with the extensive research on the impact of modeling, I think it's a little blithe to assume that this research on the impact of spanking on a child's aggressiveness (that has been conducted for literally decades) goes into the same category as the more egregious examples we have discussed in the recent past. Hundreds of studies have found a strong association between the use of physical punishment and the level of aggression to be strong. And I also happen to find it appalling that we are now willing to say parents spank because the child is more difficult--who's the adult in this interaction?! And are African-American children innately more difficult than other groups as their parents use spanking significantly more than other ethnic groups? And lower class parents use spanking significantly more than middle class parents so are their children also innately more difficult? The research on the impact of discipline on children has been conducted for eons and this listserv is doing a disservice to this extensive and ongoing research to be willing to casually put it into the "gee whiz, chicken or the egg," category. I think the amount of time and consistency of the research studies through meta-analysis that the use of physical punishment precedes the aggression of the children. Gee, we use to blame the parents for every thing. Now we seem ready and willing to blame the child for the type of discipline their parents decide to use. Ludicrous to the extreme. Joan [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
