Have you ever asked yourself what chapter or topics in psychology you will remember forever after your undergraduate degree! If not, I advice you to take my choice. Chapter 1 on the topic “The Six Scientific Thinking Principles,” the six scientific thinking principles are correlation vs. causation, falsifiability, Replicability, extraordinary claims, ruling out rival hypotheses and Occam’s razor. I think these principles can be applied in many different situations in life because it goes beyond psychology.
Correlation verses Causation, this is an error of ignorance or assuming that because something is associated with another, then it automatically cause the other. For example, one may make a comment that the market is full of people because it is on a festive season. This rates to correlation vs. causation because who knows, that might not be the cause. You should be skeptical always.
Ruling out rival hypotheses, we should ask ourselves before coming to a conclusion if there are other possible explanations that can further explain what happened. Referring back to my example, the market perhaps could be full because it is holiday and most people are out of work spending time with their family members. This could be an alternative explanation as to why the market is full.
Extraordinary claims, the more a claim contradicts what we already know, the more persuasive the evidence must be provided with clear understanding and prove before we are convinced to accept it. For example, in court cases, the prosecutor might make a claim that the defendant is guilty of certain crimes. The judge would have to see if the evidence is strong enough to make the defendant guilty before making the verdict.
Occam’s razor, when faced by two or more competing claims or phenomena, the phenomena with fewest assumptions should be chosen or selected. You should proceed with simpler situations until that simplicity can be traded for greater explanatory power. Falsifiability, for a claim to be meaningful, it must be literally incapable of being disproved. There must be solid evidence that support the claim.
Replicability, duplication of a study finding can be done to make the findings clearer through provision of sufficient information about research procedures in the first study.
The world we life today is full of problems that we cannot evade. We ought to give solutions. I think it is very important to apply the logic behind these six scientific principles of thinking when presented with new information and assertions. This is because it gives you a second thought and view in different manner. However, you should just not dismiss new information because there could be other possible explanation. You need to keep an open mind when confronted with new evidence. If at one point the new evidence is strong enough, then you need not to look far than just switching your thoughts to the six principles.
We read from newspapers, watch from our televisions set or even read out from the internet of certain case and claims. For example, the New York time reported that there is rise in violent acts among children in United States. The report claims that children spent most of the time watching violent shows and later apply to their peers. In the corridors of justice, what captured my attention is the report that covered the case of former Cote d’Ivoire (state in Africa) president Charles Taylor handed a 50 years term imprisonment for violating human rights while still in office.
I happen to run into an article in the New York magazine and found it interesting. A new survey sponsored by the National Science Foundation shows that about a quarter of American adults have been left behind by the Copernican revolution. Does the earth revolve around the sun or does the sun revolves around the earth!
Charles Taylor being handed a 50 years imprisonment relates to the principle of extraordinary claims. The prosecutor had strong evidence to support his claims that Taylor indeed violated human rights while still holding office. Judge Teresa Doherty from Northern Ireland had no other option than to hand him that sentence.
Moving on to the New York magazine’s new report, Galileo Galilee proved beyond doubt after he observing plant venues with is telescope that the sun-centered model of Copernicus exist. This supported his claims. I think the principle of falsifiability relates to this case. He provides prove to his claims that the earth revolves around the sun. It is not the sun that revolves around the earth as people believed. It is proven beyond doubt that the claim is true. I believe I haven’t just learned what to think, I've learned how to think. Thanks to psychology. Make a resolution to go home with something small from psychology.
Reference
Carlson, N., Buskins, W. (2002). The Science of Behavior, (2nd ed.), New York. Norton Company
Johnson.W.S (2008): The Causes of Crime. (9th Ed) New York, Cambridge University Press.
McDonald. S. P (2006): The Neuropsychiatric status Of Violent Male Delinquents,(8th Ed.), New York, McGrew Hill Publishers.
