Dr Jim Guinee wrote... When I present a research study in class, I like to find something that is methodologically sound, but tinged with controversy to see if those polarized on the issue overlook methodological problems or skewer them. (SNIP)
Stephen Black wrote... Whenever I see a post like this, I can't help wondering whether it represents a genuine request for help, or whether it's really a not-so-innocent attempt to publicize a study which supports a religious agenda. Dr Jim Guinee wrote... P.S. It is my non-religious belief that Stephen owes me an apology. I get real tired of the religious crap attacks that occur on TIPS. That might explain why some of the other Christians that used to be semi-prolific posters have completely disappeared. Nice job, Stephen et al. Aubyn writes... I am both a Christian and a psychologist, though not a prolific (even semi) poster to this list. I do read the list regularly, and I do not agree with Dr. Guinee's perception that TIPS is a place where "religious crap attacks" occur with any noticeable frequency. I think it is important to make this point in public because Christians have been getting a bad rap of late because some Christians with certain kinds of views are aggressive in pushing them, while many other Christians who do not share those views tend to sit back and say nothing. It would be both unfortunate and inaccurate for non-Christian psychologists on this list to conclude that most psychologists who are also Christians agree with Dr. Guinee. I have greatly appreciated the responses that Stephen and others on this thread have made - indeed I entertained a similar range of possible explanations for Dr. Guinee's post myself. Speaking for myself, one thing that would have helped is if Dr. Guinee had clarified his own view of the study and pedagogical use of it. I believe a fair reading of his cryptic introduction might suggest to some that he thinks the study in question is well done, and that students who reject its conclusions based on their perception of methodological flaws are just biased. OTOH, in the context of my campus (a conservative Christian one) I would expect many students to "overlook methodological problems" in the study precisely because they agree with its conclusions, and the study would then provide me with a good opportunity to point out both the flaws and their relevance and importance. Indeed, I make use of a similar device in my own General Psychology course, though I may switch to this one because in some ways the limitations on the conclusion are more clear. My point is, I think it is possible that Dr. Guinee really was leaving the door open for the possibility of bias to lead to both overlooking or overemphasizing the flaws in the study, while at the same time I think it is understandable why some would read his post and think he was essentially trolling for pro-abortion responses. The editorial we were referred to models well how methodological limitations can be recognized without completely discarding a study. If Dr. Guinee would consider adding a little more clarifying material to his often interesting posts, some of this confusion might be avoided. While I often disagree with a lot that I read on this list (and I doubt that religious orientation plays much of a role in that, as I suspect the same could be said by most readers of the list) I find it to be a vibrant and productive on-line community. Dr. Guinee of course is entitled to his own views (even the ones I disagree with) and there are many other Christians who side with him. But despite evidence to the contrary in the mass media, the Christian Community is a diverse one, and there are lots of psychologists who are Christians who disagree with him as well. Not all important questions in life can be resolved by experimental or even empirical data - but those of us who are psychologists have made a commitment to submit all empirical questions about human experience to empirical evidence, accepting the risk that the answers may conflict with our a priori assumptions. Psychologists who are Christians are no better or worse at keeping these commitments than anyone else. **************************************************** Aubyn Fulton, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Chair, Department of Psychology & Social Work Pacific Union College Angwin, CA 94508 Office: 707-965-6536 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
