“Fed up with futile
internet arguments, a bunch of psychologists investigated how best to correct
false ideas. Tom Stafford discovers how to debunk properly”
By: To Stafford
Published: BBC, 13
November 2014, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141113-the-best-way-to-debunk-myths
Level of difficulty:***
Note to the student: This activity comprises three related
texts, the first and second of which are easier than the third – level *** -
but the last one of which is difficult. The first two texts will, however, help
with the last one making it easier to tackle. The writing task is tough too but
should become easier if the reading activities are properly covered.
BEFORE YOU READ
·
Why do we cling to misguided opinions?
·
How can people be persuaded to give up cherished
opinions?
·
Is it possible to change convictions?
TEXT 1: HOW TO DEBUNK FALSEHOODS
QUESTIONS:
QUESTIONS:
1. Stephen
Lewandowsky and John Cook’s purpose in carrying out their experiments was to
try and discover ………………………………………….(2 answers, find both)
2. Why
do people cling to wrong beliefs despite evidence to the contrary? Because
of…………………..
3. The…………you
know a person, the……………the backfire effect.
4. In
saying “Beliefs don’t work like that”, the writer means we can’t get people to
abandon wrong ideas by only……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Johnson
and Steifert proved in their experiments that……………………………………………………………….
6. At
what point in the discussion does the plausible alternative need to be
mentioned?
TEXT 2: THE BEST WAY TO WIN AN ARGUMENT
By: Tom Stafford
Published: BBC, 21 May 2014, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140521-the-best-way-to-win-an-argument
Level of difficulty:***
QUESTIONS
1. Read
the first paragraph of the text. What effect does this approach have?
2. Acc.
To Rozenblitt and Keil, the reason for the illusion of explanatory depth is the
fact that …………………………..
3. The
cognitive miser theory holds that:
·
Our understanding of an issue may, in fact, be
shallow
·
We feel it is more efficient to take mental
shortcuts
·
It takes a special understanding to prove how
wrong we are about our understanding
·
All of the above
·
None of the above
4. Read
Fernbach’s experiment carefully to the end. Why did those who provided reasons
for their views remain sure that they were right? Because they
didn’t………………………………………………….
TEXT 3: WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE ON USING
RATIONAL ARGUMENT TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS?
By: Tom Stafford
Level of Difficulty: **** However, if
the other two tasks, text 1 and text 2, are covered first, this will become
easier.
QUESTIONS
1. Read
down as far as “Fortunately, as a cognitive scientist…” According to this
section,
·
People are influenced by appearances T / F
·
There is a biological explanation for most
mental activities. T / F
·
Our daily actions are similar to those of a
skilled actor. T / F
·
We are rational beings. T / F
·
Personal characteristics and intuition play an
important role in our lives. T / F
2. We
can surmise from the same section that the author thinks we are rational /
irrational beings.
3. Read
the section on persuasion carefully. The fact that we twist arguments was
verified in the capital punishment experiment
because…………………………………………………………………………………….
4. The
above result proves the existence of……………………………………………………………………………………..
5. The
capital punishment experiment, the climate change experiment and others like it
prove that humans are rational beings because the subjects in the said
experiments are
·
Well educated and well read adults
·
Psychology students
·
Randomly selected participants with specific
views
·
All of the above
·
None of the above
·
Other: please specify
6. The
writer considers the fact that the views of the subjects in the experiment
didn’t change to be proof of ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Richard
Petty’s experiment showed that it wasn’t ………………………….but………………………….that
determined whether people changed their minds. The take home point from this
research is that ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. What
is the reason for the popularity of the Wason Selection task and similar tasks
testing the power of argument?
9. The
success rate on the Wason selection task is closely linked to: mark as many as
you see fit.
·
The number of members in the group
·
Collaboration
·
Time allowed
·
Cooperation
10. Why
is social loafing not observed in experiments using mathematical problems?
11. From
experiments on “illusion of explanatory depth” we understand that
……………………………..is confused with……………………………………………………………
12. Statistical
reasons have been found to be more ineffective in changing opinions because
they lack……………………………………………………………………………
13. Why
do you think the explanations group was more likely to shift their position
compared to the reasons group? Open ended.
14. Both
in the case of the explanations group and deliberative polling ……………………………..are
impossible and people end up with less entrenched views as they
are…………………………………..
15. What
does “This theory” in the phrase “This theory connects with that of another
important theorist of rationality” refer to? There are two answers, find both.
16. What
conclusion does the writer himself draw from Cialdiani’s “six factors which can
help persuade other people”?
17. Read
Singer’s opinions to the end. A moral argument requires objectivity
because……………………
18. Acting
completely objectively to persuade others can have two possible consequences.
These are: ……………………………..
19. The
writer asks a question in the conclusion. What’s his answer? How do you know?
WRITING TASK
Based
on all you have read, do you think humans are rational creatures or
rationalizing creatures? Write an essay in which you defend your own opinions
and refute the counter arguments.
HOW TO DEBUNK
FALSEHOODS KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This is a relatively
straight forward article yet it is vital it be covered carefully in preparation
for text3, which is tough. If carefully analyzed, these three texts will lead
to a very challenging essay task.
- A right way to correct
someone when they believe something is wrong; OR, practical evidence based
techniques for correcting misinformation.
- The backfire effect
- Less, greater
- Telling people the
evidence for the truth
- Debunkers need to work
with the fact psychological factors affect how we process information if
they want the best chance of being believed.
- At the beginning
THE BEST WAY TO WIN AN ARGUMENT KEY
1. The
persons on the receiving end hardens their existing position
2. We
mistake our familiarity with things for the belief that we understand how
something works when in fact…
3. All
of the above
4. Explain
how the policy they were advocating would work.
TEXT 3: WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE ON USING RATIONAL ARGUMENT TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S
MINDS? KEY
1.
T, T, T, F, F
2.
Rational
3.
The people who had pro-death penalty views
found flaws and biases in anti death penalty views and vice versa. OR, the
participants in the experiments ended up with more extreme views than they
started with.
4.
The biased assimilation effect
5.
1, 2
6.
Rationality
7.
The strength of the argument but the
involvement of the subjects; strong arguments can be persuasive but only when
people are motivated to deliberate on the issue
8.
There is a right answer
9.
Collaboration and cooperation
10.
Groups in these experiments have a common
goal, trust each other and are committed to the task. Furthermore, the
solutions can be demonstrated to be correct.
11.
The ease with which we interact with these
systems / our own knowledge
12.
Explanations, causal reasons
13.
Possible answer: The explanations group has
to think in detail as opposed to just rattling off some reasons
14.
Knee-jerk reactions/ better informed, more
willing to compromise and more aware of nuances
15.
That reason evolved to convince other people
in arguments; the purpose of reason is to persuade others that we are right
16.
Maybe relying on these factors to judge
whether you should be persuaded can lead to irrational mistakes, but in the
long term, they might help distinguish more rational from less rational arguments.
17.
You need to advance a rule that the other
people can agree to
18.
It can come back to bite you; it might even
lead to conclusions you didn’t expect when you first formulated them
19.
A rational animal; reason has a quiet power
