PSY1921

Do four or more cups of coffee a day fight off cancer? Do men with beards make better boyfriends? Does eating more chocolate make you smarter? Does a lack of sleep literally eat away at your brain? In the age of “fake” news and information being constantly exchanged on social media outlets, it can difficult to separate fact from fiction (and clickbait) in regards to scientific findings. Throughout the semester, we will learn how to critically analyze scientific studies in the media by examining A) how research methods can influence the conclusions we draw from a study, B) common psychological biases in the media and ourselves that can affect the way we interpret the news, C) how bad (and good) statistics can influence the outcome of studies in social science and psychology, and D) what can go wrong in the process of communicating science, from the initial scientific publication to reporting. Through the semester, you will gain the necessary tools to celebrate the good science you see in the news and punch holes through the fiction as you continue onward into an ever more scientific and online world.

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