BLA1633

The Argument Against Psychology as Science
> Psychology isn't science. Why can we definitively say that? Because psychology often does not meet the five basic requirements for a field to be considered scientifically rigorous: clearly defined terminology, quantifiability, highly controlled experimental conditions, reproducibility and, finally, predictability and testability. > Happiness research is a great example of why psychology isn't science. How exactly should "happiness" be defined? The meaning of that word differs from person to person and especially between cultures. What makes Americans happy doesn't necessarily make Chinese people happy. How does one measure happiness? Psychologists can't use a ruler or a microscope, so they invent an arbitrary scale. Today, personally, I'm feeling about a 3.7 out of 5. How about you?

2. Science requires data. Life experiences are not data.
= = = Man: 3-D movie changed my sight for the better = = = For most of his life, he had poor depth perception. His eyes pointed outward and did not allow him to see, in stereo, a single image with both eyes. But in February 2012, something changed when he went to a movie theater with his wife. He put on a pair of 3-D glasses to watch the film "Hugo" and, to his amazement, the characters and scenery in this film jumped out at him in greater stereo vision than he had experienced before. [|Man: 3-D movie changed my sight for the better]

It is estimated that between 3% and 5% of people are stereo-blind or have large deficits in stereo vision. [|Man:3-D movie changed my sight for the better] Were is the data on this?

Other experts say the vivid 3-D movie could have indeed jolted Bridgeman's visual system in this way, but that it wouldn't work as a quick fix for most people with eye alignment problems. It's possible with Bridgeman's unique set of circumstances, it was exactly what he needed, but it would probably help few people. [|Man 3d movie]

3. Science runs on careful criticism.
==[|Meningitis vaccines urged before NYC Pride events] ==

4. Fight fire with fire, and data with data.
Through such testing, it was obvious that his stereo vision wasn't great, and that he had exotropic vision, meaning his eyes pointed in different directions. But he didn't know what perceptual difference it would make to view the world more in stereo, until he saw "Hugo."

5. There's power in precise terms.
The idea that **learning** a new skill - say juggling, cooking, or playing guitar - can be like an **addiction** is no joke. [|Learning something new your brain will thank you]

6. Correlation is not causation.
==[|Alcohol may improve breast cancer survival] == In fact, researchers found that being a moderate drinker may actually improve your chances of survival.

7. More of something good isn't always better.
==[|Alcohol may improve breast cancer survival] ==

8. Beware the plausible, __especially__ if it works.
What's more, after returning the glasses and leaving the theater, Bridgeman's perception of the real world was enhanced as well. A lamppost jumped out from the background, and the trees, cars and people looked somehow more vivid. This was the world with depth. Bridgeman was "euphoric." [|Man 3d movie changed my sight for the better]

9. Where there's smoke, there's smoke.
==[|Cold sores linked to cognitive decline] ==

10. Lack of evidence doesn't mean it's false.
==[|Cold sores linked to cognitive decline] ==