On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I guess I am a little flummoxed now because I feel like I am battling an
> argument that basically states that "If Anastasi says it, it must be
> correct." I do not have the time to find experts to back up my opinion in
> this matter, so I will just state it again. If I am wrong, I am wrong. I
> guess I will be proven so in the great by and by.
(various assertions follow)
Agreed that citing authority is not the best form of evidence.
However, I thought that Anastasi offered some reasonable grounds
for her opinions, so that it wasn't just the weight of authority
that was being applied. But the larger issue is that assertions
require evidence (for example a randomized study showing that
students who write essay tests learn to write better than those
who don't).
In the absence of evidence, all is vanity. Or, to change the
metaphor, the default position is "not proven".
-Stephen
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Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:
http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/
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