PSB_668 Critical study of scientific literature

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Tatiana Malatincová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Zdenka Stránská, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 10:50–12:25 U14
Prerequisites
PSA_038 Methodology I
Students' proficiency in English language must be sufficient to allow them to participate in critical discussions on scientific topics and write critical responses to scientific texts/arguments. Students should be able to understand psychological scientific texts without too much difficulty.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Throughout the course, students will gradually develop skills necessary for employing a critical approach in searching, studying and using scientific sources in psychology. At the end of the course, they should be able to identify arguments in scientific texts, use theoretical and methodological knowledge to evaluate evidence provided by authors, compare and contrast different points of view, clearly identify points of conflict or controversy, and verify cited sources of information/evidence. They should become more sensitive to the difference between facts and interpretations, to misinterpretations, and to contextual factors that might have an impact on how ideas are presented in literature (time, trends and current concerns, journal policies, authors’ backgrounds, current views of psychological science, etc.). Finally, students will obtain basic skills in using available information to form their own perspectives of various debatable issues and in providing logically coherent arguments for their opinions, as well as consistent and well-based counter-arguments against ideas they disagree with.
Syllabus
  • 1. Course introduction. What is a critical approach? Critical approach v. dismissive / black-and-white thinking.
  • 2. Successful scientific publishing. What makes an idea a “good” idea? What makes and argument a “good” argument? Deductive and inductive thinking in psychological scientific texts. Appropriate language of science. Factors influencing the publication process.
  • 3.-6. The “Undermining Effect” debate: Guided analysis of published studies and criticism – theoretical arguments, methodology, conclusions and context.
  • 7.-11. The “Priming Effect” debate: Supervised analysis of published studies and criticism – theoretical arguments, methodology, conclusions and context.
  • 12. Comments/discussion on the final assignment: Independent analysis of published studies and criticism on a pre-selected topic.
Literature
  • Weekly readings (published scientific articles) will be assigned based on the discussed topic.
  • GIRDEN, Ellen R. and Robert KABACOFF. Evaluating research articles : from start to finish. Third edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2011, xvi, 399. ISBN 9781412974462. info
  • Sinnott-Armstrong, W., & Fogelin, R. J. (2014). Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, 9th ed. Cengage Learning.
  • MORROW, D. R., & WESTON, A. (2011) A workbook for arguments: A complete course in critical thinking. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.
  • WESTON, Anthony. A rulebook for arguments. 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2000, xiv, 87. ISBN 0872205525. info
  • Critical thinking in psychology. Edited by Robert J. Sternberg - Diane F. Halpern - Henry L. Roediger. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007, xii, 340. ISBN 9780521845892. info
  • LEVY, David A. Tools of critical thinking : metathoughts for psychology. Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press, 2003, x, 262. ISBN 1577663160. info
Teaching methods
Instruction and practical exercises on argument identification and formulation. Critical classroom and electronic forum discussions on general topics regarding critical perspective on published psychological concepts as well as topics concerning specific controversial/debatable concepts in psychological science. Weekly reading assignments – published studies and/or critical comments on specific topics. Weekly written assignments – structured responses to the provided materials (argument identification, identification and evaluation of evidence, etc.). Final assignment: Formulation of a critical response to a debatable topic in psychology. Classroom debate.
The course is an experimental implementation of a scaffolding-based ‘spiral curriculum’ designed for the development and enhancement of academic competences (rather than declarative knowledge). This means that the complexity of tasks will increase throughout the semester so that students can develop their skills starting from guided application of basic principles up to independent argumentation to a specific topic.
Assessment methods
Students are required to do weekly assignments and readings in time, so they can participate in classroom discussions. Late homework submissions (response papers) are penalized by additional assignments.
The final (colloquium) assignment involves two parts. In the first part, students submit a critical response (1,000-1,500 words /4-6 normal pages excluding references) to a pre-selected psychological scientific issue, in which they present and defend their own conclusions based on a critical reading of key publications. In the second part, each student will respond critically to the submission (arguments) of another student. Students may either agree on the topic among themselves or they can choose from topics offered by the course instructor.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf2/course/view.php?id=3386
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
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