On Tue, 19 Oct 1999, Larry Z. Daily wrote:
> As a relatively new subscriber, I have to support Bill on this. I
> subscribed to TIPS to help improve myself as a teacher of psychology.
> Instead, I've been inundated with mail trying to deal reasonably with a
> controversial statement made by a single individual. My impression (and I
> emphasize that this is just my perception of the events) is that, having
> made the statement (not in itself a bad thing), that individual then
> refused to accept any evidence to the contrary. Published studies were
> eurocentric. Correlational studies don't prove causation (but isn't such a
> judgment eurocentric?). Anecdotal evidence is, well, anecdotal. What I
> percieved is that reasonable people became frustrated when their reasonable
> responses were refused and began to respond in one of the only two ways
> left - personal attacks (saying nothing seems not to be a real option on
> TIPS - I offer this letter as proof).
>
I have never made a statement that all published studies are
Eurocentric. Although,I may question the belief that the ony
valid assessment must come from substantiated data.
I look at the particular issue being investigated and compare and
contrast all other alternative types of interpretatio,including
methodolgy.
As to correlational studies,(again depending on the issue being
discussed),we have to look at the various parameters.
Anecdotal evidence is a condition that may give impetus to behavior
change.
There is such a thing as Single-subject design,where the individual
is used as his or her own control.
Take this example:
Pre- have a headache X (IV) drink a cup of cactus tea Y (dv)
given by the witch doctor headache gone
Now a between groups design may not provide such evidence.
Michael Sylvester
Daytona Beach,Florida
