38th Annual ConferenceFebruary 1, 2013

What They Don't KnowCAN Hurt Them

Ryan Curtis, Ph.D.Ast. Dir. of Undergraduate Studies

Scott Roberts, Ph.D.Dir. of Undergraduate Studies

Department of PsychologyUniversity of Maryland

Log in to channel 23

PRESS:• (Ch) or (Go)

• (4)• (1)• (Ch) or (Go)

The green light shoulddisplay for 2 seconds

You are now ready to respond

Which of these poses the greatest risk to a college students success?

Poll

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

34%

13%

3%

0%

47%

3%

0%

1. Alcohol abuse2. Drug abuse3. Abusive relationships4. Academic dishonesty5. Unprotected sexual intercourse6. All are equally problematic7. None are a problem for my

students

How much money did the average person in this room make last year?

Poll

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

42%

39%

13%

3%

0%0%0%0%

3%

1. < $50,0002. $50,001-$60,0003. $60,001-$70,0004. $70,001-$80,0005. $80,001-$90,0006. $90,001-$100,0007. $100,001-$110,0008. $110,001-$120,0009. >$120,001

How much money did YOU make last year?

Poll

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

70%

10%7%

3% 3%

0%0%

7%

0%

1. < $50,0002. $50,001-$60,0003. $60,001-$70,0004. $70,001-$80,0005. $80,001-$90,0006. $90,001-$100,0007. $100,001-$110,0008. $110,001-$120,0009. >$120,001

Assumption Errors

Assumptions are the best predictors of Jonesian Intelligence (Jacobs, 1998)

Assumption Errors are bad Have been linked with risky alcohol

consumption (Prentice & Miller, 1993) and sexual behavior (Hines, et al. 2002)

Assumptions are the best predictors of Jonesian Intelligence (Jacobs, 1998)

Assumption Errors are bad Have been linked with risky alcohol

consumption (Prentice & Miller, 1993) and sexual behavior (Hines, et al. 2002)

Assumption Errors

I totally made this up

This part is true

Pluralistic Ignorance

https://depts.washington.edu/etuwb/ltblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/college-students-classroom.jpg (modified)

Questions?

I’m confused, but everyone else seems

to understand

Pluralistic Ignorance

https://depts.washington.edu/etuwb/ltblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/college-students-classroom.jpg (modified)

Questions?

?

???

??

Pluralistic Ignorance

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whOKbNHf3As/T4B3rRRAuTI/AAAAAAAAAz8/7JkGXzG7ul8/s400/you.jpg

Everyone in the group is different

from me…

Multiple members of the group share this assumption

What’s Wrong with Feeling Unique?

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/08/30/250633/drinking1.jpg http://www.totallifecounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/College-Binge-Drinking-400x260.jpg http://thumb9.shutterstock.com/thumb_large/401815/401815,1328794249,4/stock-photo-teenage-girl-tired-of-reading-sleeping-on-the-bed-with-a-book-on-her-face-isolated-on-white-94764160.jpg

Last Friday Night?

Everyone else was getting drunk…

… and then had sex

ACTUAL Norm

“Getting 'drunk' frequently is ok because it is an important part of the college experience”

Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)http://campusinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/silhouette-dancing-people.jpg

ERRONEOUS Norm

“Getting 'drunk' frequently is ok because it is an important part of the college experience”

Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)http://campusinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/silhouette-dancing-people.jpg

Assumed Average

Fundamental Attribution Error

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUw8r4Fyr9I/ToH_If5JPoI/AAAAAAAAAVU/xrJnD_jfce4/s1600/doing_shots.jpg

I only drink like this on special

occasions.

But these guys really love to drink!

We tend to do what we think is normal…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9349642@N07/3611036085/sizes/l/

…because no one wants to be rejected…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaswinterer/2222245735/sizes/l/

Serious and Silly Norms

http://cdn04.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hale-jjhp/lucy-hale-chris-zylka-just-jared-halloween-party-04.jpg

Asch (1951) “Line Study” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2NduSCLiMA

Consequences of Perceived Disconnect

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/08/30/250633/drinking1.jpg http://timewellness.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/h_14272279.jpg?w=360&h=240&crop=1 http://im.glogster.com/media/1/1/28/7/1280715.jpg

ALIENATION

ASSIMILATION

(Prentice & Miller, 1993)

150-Seat Sections of PSYC 100

http://www.ashleypettitliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/alcoholic-beverages.jpg http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/181r8oee0jpbdjpg/xlarge.jpg

WEEK

MONTH

LIFE

Classmate?

UMD Student?

You?

The Results

The Results

Academic Dishonesty

Lear

ned

what's

on

test

Helpe

d ch

eat o

n te

st

Copie

d on

test

Unaut

horiz

ed te

st ai

d

Wor

king

with o

ther

s

Parap

hras

ing

pape

r

Copyin

g Pap

er

Other

's wor

k

False

lab

data

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Actual

Academic Dishonesty

Lear

ned

what's

on

test

Helpe

d ch

eat o

n te

st

Copie

d on

test

Unaut

horiz

ed te

st ai

d

Wor

king

with o

ther

s

Parap

hras

ing

pape

r

Copyin

g Pap

er

Other

's wor

k

False

lab

data

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Actual Assumed Class Assumed UMD

Note – insert comparison on salaries

Did your parents/guardians offer you rewards for good grades as a child?

70%

10%

7%

3%

0%

7%

0%

0%

3%

70%

10%

7%

3%

0%

7%

0%

0%

3%

< $50,000

$50,001-$60,000

$60,001-$70,000

$70,001-$80,000

$80,001-$90,000

$90,001-$100,000

$100,001-$110,000

$110,001-$120,000

>$120,001

First Slide Second Slide

Teaching Conference Results

Assumed Actual

Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)

Discussion group Peer-focused

• Show data on pluralistic ignorance Individual-focused

• How to make responsible decisions

4-6 months later…

Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)

Men Women0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Individual PeerD

rin

ks

pe

r W

ee

k

4-6 months later…

Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)

Men Women0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Individual PeerD

rin

ks

pe

r W

ee

k

Technologies Clickers

• Clickers.umd.edu Poll everywhere

• Polleverywhere.com Low Tech

Post-Its

In Class

Technologies Surveys

• Blackboard/Canvas• Qualtrics/Surveymonkey/Googledocs

Wiki Blog Discussion Board

Out of Class

How would you use clickers to combat assumption errors?

Feedback from Students

“I loved that the clickers were able to show us information about the others around me while keeping it anonymous. It taught me a great deal about pluralistic ignorance.”

“It was interactive, it told us what the reality was in our class and shed light on the concept of pluralistic ignorance. My expectations were very different than the reality often times. It showed us things that were counter intuitive so that we paid attention when you told us what the actual answer is.”

38th Annual ConferenceFebruary 1, 2013

Thank you!

Ryan Curtis, Ph.D.curtis@umd.edu

Scott Roberts, Ph.D.scott@umd.edu

Department of PsychologyUniversity of Maryland