Chapter 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Why Do Psychology

The Powers and Perils of Intuition
A closer look at the benefits, and limitations, of relying on intuition in Psychology Today. Written by textbook author David G. Myers.

Hindsight Bias
An APA news release describes the important role hindsight bias may play in the operation of an efficient memory system.

James Randi Educational Foundation
Randi provides a great resource in exposing the need for critical thinking in all aspects of life. The foundation also offers undergraduate scholarships for the application of critical thinking.

How Do Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions?

Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals
This APA document provides "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals," developed by the American Psychological Association's Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE).

American Psychological Association Ethics Code
These are the American Psychological Association’s official ethical guidelines. The site’s introduction notes "Membership in the APA commits members to adhere to the APA Ethics Code and to the rules and procedures used to implement it. Psychologists and students, whether or not they are APA members, should be aware that the Ethics Code may be applied to them by state psychology boards, courts, or other public bodies."

Code of Conduct for Research Involving Humans
These are the official guidelines from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for all medical, natural sciences, and social sciences research involving humans.

Online Psychology Career Center
This Wesleyan University site offers resources for psychology students, including tips for: applying to graduate school, preparing for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), developing an academic vita, and getting good letters of recommendation.

Psych Web
Psych Web by Russell Dewey is another popular megasite that offers valuable resources for students and instructors of psychology, including an award-winning:
Careers in Psychology page;
Tipsheets for Psych Majors;
and a list of other Megalists.

U.S. Psychology PhD Programs
This is a comprehensive list of 185 U.S. schools rank-ordered by quality, with links to the psychology departments of each school. This site provides additional links to:
Clinical Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs ranked by EPPP scores
and the Canadian Psychological Association Graduate Guide.

The American Psychological Association
This is the oldest and largest national organization for psychologists. The official APA site includes: the latest news in psychology, career information and even help locating a psychologist near you.

Association for Psychological Science
A national organization for researchers and educators in psychology that emphasizes psychology’s foundation in the scientific method.

The Gallup Organization
Learn more about the Gallup organization's polling methods. Sample some recent results.

Research on the Net
The American Psychological Society (APS) site, maintained by John Krantz, has collected dozens of online experiments from all areas of psychology. You may review results or, in some cases, even participate as a subject.

Library Research in Psychology
This APA Web site helps students and non-psychologists find the psychological research they need on topics ranging from basic current events to scholarly articles. It serves as a guide for where research is published, how it is indexed, and where to find it.

Defining Science, Critical Thinking, and the Value of Science
A clear and humorous essay on the importance of critical thinking in science by Dr. Bruce Stewart, Biology Professor at Murray State College.

Understanding the Biopsychosocial Approach
An overview by a British psychiatrist of the biopsychosocial approach and how it can be applied to clinical psychology.

In Two Minds: Dual-Process Theories of Reasoning and Rationality
Abstracts and posters from a 2006 conference on dual-processing theories at the Open University.

Psychology’s Roots

The History of Psychology
An overview of psychology’s history from the Ancient Greek philosophers to the 20th Century cognitive revolution by Dr. C. George Boeree, Professor of Psychology at Shippensburg University.

Types of Psychologists
What’s the difference between a clinical psychologist and a positive psychologist? This page from the University of Portland features 16 sub-fields of psychology and how each group of specialists approach their study of the mind and behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology

What Do Laboratory Experiments Tell Us About the Real World?
An extensive look at the value of laboratory experiments by Steven Levitt and John List at the University of Chicago. Levitt co-authored the 2005 book Freakonomics.

Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals
The official APA guidelines for researchers working with animals.

On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research
This book is available for free view in html format. This link directs the student to the chapter “Values in Science.”