While I don't want to get involved in the fray regarding fundamentalism and
the afterlife, I do want to point out that Thomas has cited one study, and
is not (I don't think!) making claims that one study represents ultimate
truth. We can criticize that study, and find fault with it, which we have
all been trained to be able to do. However, I would advise the sort of
scientific humility that allows us to wait for replication and further
findings in this arena, and not dismiss the findings simply because they
are not in line with our pre-existing beliefs.
BTW, Despite Paul's contention that self-esteem is not a useful construct,
it is one that is likely here to stay, at least in the developmental and
clinical literatures.
Esther
At 11:03 AM 2/28/01 -0600, Timmerman, Thomas wrote:
>This is starting to sound like Dr. Laura's complaints
>against the child sexual abuse article:
>"Those studies of child sexual abuse and self-esteem
>are meaningless because they're based on self-reports!"
>Uhhhh....how else do you measure self-esteem?
>
> > Again, a lot of reliance on self report without direct validation.
> > We do not _know_, in fact, what the effect of pledging is on
> > the subjects'
> > future behaviors.
>
>So, in order to evaluate the effect of pledging, self-reports
>are meaningless and we need "direct validation."
>I think you mentioned random physical exams in another post.
>Might work for females, but what about males? And how will
>we obtain truly random physical exams?
>I don't think it's likely that such direct validation will
>ever happen (if it's even possible).
>
>Since self-reports are meaningless I guess we're stuck with no
>evidence either way; and without evidence we go back to screaming
>arguments based on religious/political/emotional beliefs.
>
>May the loudest person win!
>
>TT
>
>==================================================
>Thomas A. Timmerman, Ph.D.
>Assistant Professor
>Psychology Department
>Austin Peay State University
>Clarksville, TN 37044
>931-221-1248
>==================================================
Esther Yoder Strahan, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Heidelberg College
310 E. Market St.
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
U.S.A.
Tel. (419) 448-2238
Fax (419) 448-2236
