ERIC Number: EJ1034602
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-May
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1527-9316
EISSN: N/A
Popular Psychological Myths: A Comparison of Students' Beliefs across the Psychology Major
Gaze, Catherine M.
Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v14 n2 p46-60 May 2014
The present study investigates the frequency and confidence with which college students endorse popular psychological myths, contrasting introductory psychology students (at the beginning and end of the course) with upper-level psychology majors and students who have never taken Introduction to Psychology. This study builds on the existing literature by comparing these groups of students and considering the role of confidence. While majors endorsed fewer myths than students with less psychology course experience, majors still endorsed half of the myths. Consistent with previous work, students reported a similar number of myths before and after completing Introductory Psychology, but students were less confident in their wrong answers at the end of the semester. While the present study focuses on myths in psychology, implications for teaching apply across disciplines.
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Comparative Analysis, Majors (Students), Intellectual Disciplines, Misconceptions, Psychology, Teaching Methods, Role, Self Esteem, College Students, Introductory Courses, Advanced Students, Questionnaires
Indiana University. 755 West Michigan Street UL 1180D, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: josotl@iupui.edu; Web site: http://www.iupui.edu/~josotl
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A