The fact that many people don't see humility as a scientific attitude may
actually say a lot about the interaction between what the media wants and
the PR we are putting out about ourselves as scientists. The scientists most
people see represented in the media are always very certain of their
conclusions and show very little humility. They bear very little resemblance
to the average scientist. Why? Because the gradualism and need for
replication that characterizes true science is not very exciting and the
media is looking for something to attract an audience. (MORE RESEARCH IS
NEEDED -- DETAILS AT 11:00!) There is a certain level of narcissism required
to make a big splash in the media and that generally is in opposition to the
spirit of scientific humility (and certainly no insult is intended to those
on TIPS who have had some success in promoting their research in the media).
As to her unwavering belief in her faith: does she feel as strongly about
everything as she does her religious beliefs? For example, "I will see the
Earth go up in flames before I believe that Crest is a more effective
decay-preventing dentifrice than Colgate!" Some things are open to
objective, empirical investigation and some are not. The fact that she feels
strongly about her religious beliefs does not have to carry over to an
unskeptical approach to all of her other knowledge and beliefs.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: Nathalie Cote [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 2:09 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: d) two of the above
I'd go with openness and skepticism. I teach my students about the
scientific attitudes of curiosity, skepticism, and humility. They understand
the first two, but I have to explain the last one to them. We scientists
have to be willing to submit our theories to systematic inquiry and be
proven wrong! (When I had a discussion about this with a friend, she told me
that as a faithful believer in a particular set of religious beliefs, she is
absolutely sure she is right and is unwilling to open herself to up to the
possibility that she is wrong, so therefore she must not be able to think
like a scientist. Hmmm.)
*****
Nathalie Cot�
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont - Mt. Holly Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 825-6754
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 1:48 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: d) two of the above
>
>
> Which two are correct?
>
> Michael B. Quanty, Ph.D.
> Psychology Professor
> Senior Institutional Researcher
> Thomas Nelson Community College
> PO Box 9407
> Hampton, VA 23670
>
> Phone: 757.825.3500
> Fax: 757.825.3807
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Sylvester [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 12:48 PM
> To: TIPS
> Subject: d) two of the above
>
>
>
> The following from a test item bank caught my attention:
>
> The ideal scientist would possess the following characteristic(s):
> a. openness
> b. willingness to make risky decisions
> c. skepticism
> d. two of the above
> e. all of the above
>
> The answer given as correct is d.
> Even though a student might answer d,would the prof know
> which two the
> student would be referring to?
> I guess I could construct my own items with choices such as:
> any of the above, two of the below,one above and one below and so on.
>
> Comments invited.
>
> Michael Sylvester,Ph.D
> Daytona Beach,Florida
>
>
>
>
>
