This study "showing" that Americans have difficulty understanding the point of view of others is just about the least scientific study I have ever read and the biggest jump in reasoning I've seen in a while, but it is amusing. They cite no research linking spatial perception to "understanding others," nor do they use a control group to isolate whether there is a different between the spatial perception of Asians versus say, Europeans or Russians (another "collectivist" group). The sample is hardly large enough to compensate for the many racial backgrounds that constitute "Americans," nor do they seem to have inquired into whether the Asians tested were raised with collectivist or individualist values or whether they were American-born or naturalized. There's no use bringing this study down further, and perhaps the journalist is equally guilty of inaccurate and oversimplified reporting, but it is funny to see people trying to demonstrate "old news" scientifically. It's not funny that this kind of joke happens at UChicago.
20 July 2007
old news
This study "showing" that Americans have difficulty understanding the point of view of others is just about the least scientific study I have ever read and the biggest jump in reasoning I've seen in a while, but it is amusing. They cite no research linking spatial perception to "understanding others," nor do they use a control group to isolate whether there is a different between the spatial perception of Asians versus say, Europeans or Russians (another "collectivist" group). The sample is hardly large enough to compensate for the many racial backgrounds that constitute "Americans," nor do they seem to have inquired into whether the Asians tested were raised with collectivist or individualist values or whether they were American-born or naturalized. There's no use bringing this study down further, and perhaps the journalist is equally guilty of inaccurate and oversimplified reporting, but it is funny to see people trying to demonstrate "old news" scientifically. It's not funny that this kind of joke happens at UChicago.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment