Popular Media

The long and crooked path of knowledge

• From Psychology Journals… to Mass Media… to You.

• Today we will cover the advantages and disadvantages of the various ways in which knowledge is transmitted to the public

The First Step - Psychology Journals

• What is the goal of Journals?• to Educate and Entertain

• Who is the author?• a Psychologist (expert in the field)

• Who is the intended reader?• other Psychologists (other experts)

• What was the process of selecting and presenting the information?

The First Step - Psychology Journals

The Process of selecting and presenting

• Research --> Confirm Hypothesis --> Disseminate

• Review process is 2-3 experts on the topic critique the paper, and “Editor” makes final decision: Reject, Accept, or Revise/Resubmit

• Advantages?• Disadvantages?

The Second Step – Mass Media

• What is the goal of Mass Media?• to Entertain and Educate

• Who is the author?• a reporter (lay person)

• Who is the intended reader?• the public (other lay persons)

• What was the process of selecting and presenting the information?

The Second Step – Mass Media

The Process of selecting and presenting• Choose a journal article or finding

• Distill the complex information into an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand format

• Advantages?• Disadvantages?

The Third Step - You

• You have the ability to critically think

• You have the ability to skip the second step and go straight to the source

• You have the ability to apply our critically thinking toolbox

So let’s apply what we have learned… Internet

• What is the goal of Internet sources?

• Who is the author?

• Who is the intended reader?

• What was the process of selecting and presenting the information?

• Advantages?• Disadvantages?

Some online sources….

• Google Scholar• National News websites

- ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc

• Online News websites- Google, etc

• Skeptic Magazines (and online)- Skeptic - http://www.skeptic.com/index.html

- Skeptical Inquirer - http://www.csicop.org/si/

- P.E.S.T.S - http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/ricker/pests/index.html

- Critical Thinking Community - http://www.criticalthinking.org/

Summary of Popular Media

• Psychology Journals and Mass Media- What is goal?, author?, reader?, process?

• For Internet Sources- See questions in Ruscio Preface xxvii

• Be skeptical but open-minded about all sources… including scientists and scientific findings (e.g., Marsden Study)