2 posts · 960 views
A sceptical look at topics from climate change to the meaning of life.
Darkwinter
2 posts
Sort by: Latest Post, Most Popular
View by: Condensed, Full
- July 15, 2009
- 05:24 AM
- 407 views
The Power of the Hypothetical
by Darkwinter in A Sceptical I
"So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,How amazingly unlikely is your birth..."In science, an hypothesis is a wonderful thing. It is the glimmer of imagination and possibility that can give rise to years of research and fascinating advances in our knowledge of the world. But it is still just the preliminary stage - when people say something is "just a theory", they are thinking of the colloquial meaning which is more analogous to hypothesis. It's a weak form of knowledge, l........ Read more »
Koo, M., Algoe, S., Wilson, T., & Gilbert, D. (2008) It's a wonderful life: Mentally subtracting positive events improves people's affective states, contrary to their affective forecasts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1217-1224. DOI: 10.1037/a0013316
- March 3, 2008
- 08:06 AM
- 553 views
As if more were needed...
by Darkwinter in A Sceptical I
It seems that there is yet more support for the value of the "Socratic method". Not that any more is needed, of course - but it's always gratifying nonetheless.A new study has been done which suggests that "people who engaged in social interaction displayed higher levels of cognitive performance" [via ScienceDaily]. So not only does the Socratic method allow for the clear and logical exchange and development of ideas, but it also reflects (and takes advantage of) the v........ Read more »
O Ybarra, E Burnstein, P Winkielman, M Keller, M Manis, E Chan, & J Rodriguez. (2007) Mental Exercising Through Simple Socializing: Social Interaction Promotes General Cognitive Functioning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(2), 248-259. DOI: 10.1177/0146167207310454
topics
join us!
Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research.
If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world.
News
Editor's Selections: How NOT to quit smoking, publish a journal, hand-off patients, and help your child learn
Editor's selections: corporate water abuse, vanishing audiophiles, artificial coffee smelling and 60k-year-old canteens
Editor's Selections: An asteroid killed the dinosaurs, innate immunity and obesity, and vaccinia virus in Brazil
