Research Application: Psychology Myths Part 3
Let’s look now at how students responded to some of the specific items.
Students at the start of the introductory psychology course correctly and confidently identified these two statements:
Copyright © Cengage
Copyright © Cengage
However, the table below shows that students had a lot of misconceptions.
Statement
% of Intro Students Who Answered "True" at Start of Course
% of Intro Students Who Answered "True" at End of Course
% of Advanced Psych Student Who Answered "True"
If you’re unsure of your answer while taking a test, it’s best to stick with your initial hunch. [False]
52% (17)
33% (7)
45% (13)
Subliminal messages can be used to persuade others to purchase products. [False]
55% (18)
43% (9)
41% (12)
Immediate contact between a mother and infant after birth is critical for bonding. [False]
61% (20)
57% (12)
59% (17)
In this table, the numbers in parentheses show:
the number of students who confidently believed the statement is false, even though it’s true.
the number of students who confidently believed the statement is true, and it is true.
the number of students who confidently believed the statement is false, and it is false.
the number of students who confidently believed the statement is true, even though it’s false.
