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Using the following text: Psychedelic research is being funded…
Using the following text:
Psychedelic research is being funded again after nearly five decades of fear and stigma. Over the next few years, a massive wave of psychedelic research is expected to hit the shores of North America. In fact, the first ones have already arrived. Among these cutting-edge works is a new study led by Dr. Lucy Diamond at Lansing University. Dr. Diamond’s study has gotten a lot of attention because of its broad scope and daring conclusion: psychedelics boost creativity. The survey-based study looked at psychedelic drug use and its relationship to other demographic factors like age, income, occupation, and so on. Participants in the survey were divided into two groups based on their drug history: users (with a history of psychedelic use) and non-users (no history, drug-naive). A number of notable demographic trends were discovered. The average age of the user group was 25, and the average level of completed education was high school. The average age of the non-user group was 42, and the average level of completed education was University. “This concerned us because it demonstrated that psychedelic use interfered with education,” Dr. Diamond explained. There is no other explanation for this outcome. Given this, it is prudent to postpone drug use until after you have completed your education.” Dr. Diamond and her team were depressed as a result of this outcome. Her mood quickly changed as she dug deeper into the results. It was discovered that psychedelic use was linked to a number of other intriguing variables. There was a notable link between psychedelic use and occupation. Only 20% of people in the non-user group reported having an artistic profession (such as drama, music or painting). This somewhat low total contrasted sharply with the user group, where 40% of people reported working in the arts. “At this point, the evidence was undeniable: these drugs significantly increase artistic ability, effectively doubling the likelihood that someone will end up working in the arts.”Dr. Diamond then discusses how her own experiences support this trend. “I’ve always found these drugs to boost creative processes. A number of my creative friends, all of whom are artists, have reaped the benefits. That, I believe, must be considered.” The mechanism by which these drugs may boost creativity is hotly debated. “I believe it has something to do with allowing the mind to connect with the larger universe.” According to Dr. Diamond. “Normally, when we are at rest, we are disconnected. Even isolated. When we take psychedelics, however, the self merges with the larger universe. There is new information obtained. It is possible to gain new insights.It is obvious that the extraordinary ideas retrieved while under the influence of psychedelics come from this specific source.” According to Dr. Diamond, the survey data conclusively supports her hypothesis: 95% of psychedelic users claim that their ideas arose as a result of an enhanced connection with the universe. “My friends have told me that such ideas are so radically different they couldn’t possibly have been generated by their own brain,” she says, claiming her own personal experiences support this hypothesis. The study has sparked considerable interest and has inspired other researchers to investigate the phenomenon themselves. Dr. Brixton, a nearby Monk University researcher, did just that. His outcome, however, was markedly different from Dr. Diamond’s. “I investigated psychedelic use and occupation in my own neighbourhood. Only in young students of similar ages. Dr. Diamond used a much larger sample than I did, and I found nothing.” Dr. Brixton discovered no significant link between psychedelics and education or occupation. He strongly disagrees with Dr. Diamond’s research group but does so respectfully. “These drugs may have promising effects, but I don’t believe there is compelling evidence that they improve creativity.” He adds that he is aware of several other groups conducting similar research that have not found the same effect as Dr. Diamond. Despite the failure of his first study, Dr. Brixton maintains an open mind about the drugs. “As the science is still in its early stages, disagreement is to be expected. More research will help us determine which effects are real.” Dr. Diamond, on the other hand, is not going to wait for those studies or widespread agreement. “These psychedelics are miracle drugs with enormous and untapped potential to change human cognitive processes.” She has already applied for funding for another project that will investigate the effects of controlled psychedelics on problem solving. She is confident that she will receive it. “Our findings are far too compelling to dismiss.”
a) identify and describe 3 of the above 6 principles of scientific thinking that the research fails to follow. The research may follow some of the 6 scientific principles, but there are some that it does not. Your job is to try to find 3 of the scientific principles that the research does not follow. For each principle, you should first describe the principle (e.g., describe what it means to rule out an alternative explanation). Then you should explain exactly why you think the research does not follow that principle well (e.g., describe the alternative explanation that the research did not rule out). Finally, you should say what would need to be done to make sure the research follows the principle (e.g., say how the research might rule out the alternative explanation). (one paragraph of around two hundred and fifty words for each principle, DO NOT use direct quotes from the text)
Principle 1: Ruling out alternative explanations
Principle 2: Correlation vs. causation
Principle 3: Falsifiability
Principle 4: Replicability
Principle 5: Extraordinary claims
Principle 6: Parsimony (a.k.a. Occam’s razor)
Make sure to include comprehensive discussion of principle as applied to description (describe what the principle means in general and how it applies to the research description
