Introduction to Psychology, with Psych. of Religion

An announcement from Doug Krull, posted with his permission:




I'm writing an introductory psychology text and the publisher with whom I've been talking would like me to identify some likely adopters to reduce the risk of launching a new textbook. I have emailed a number of colleagues and have found some who are interested, but because I hope to include a psychology of religion chapter I thought that some members of division 36 might be interested as well.

I would be happy to share any of the chapters I've completed (Intro/Methods, Biopsychology, Perception, Cognition, Learning, Motivation/Emotion, Personality, Health), but if you can spare a few minutes, I'd like to describe my approach briefly.

1. Perhaps the most obvious feature is that I have a playful writing style. I think science should be fun and I think this fosters learning. As one outstanding student commented to me, "What good is a textbook if students don't read it?" I hope to encourage textbook reading by adding a dose of goofiness here and there.

2. Pedagogy
A. I try to use good examples. I suppose all textbook writers do, but I think this is one of my strong points.
B. Greater depth. I think students can handle more content, especially if it's interesting and/or important (e.g., genes and
Huntington's disease, classical conditioning and drug tolerance, Own Race Bias, conditional reasoning, Theory of Planned Behavior).
C. Short sections within chapters. I think both chapters and modules are too long. I prefer short sections followed by review questions within traditional chapters.
D. Critical thinking. I try to emphasize it throughout the text.

3. Psychology of Religion chapter. As you know well, psychology of religion is growing in popularity (e.g., new division 36 APA journal, special issues in Journal of Clinical Psychology and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin) and it makes a good capstone for intro psych because it has many of the same topics (e.g., methods, biopsychology, development, health, social).

4. Different perspective on controversial issues. I realize that many of you will disagree with me on this, but I want to be open about my goals. This aspect comes up rarely because most topics in psychology are not controversial (e.g., experiments, agonists, color vision, shaping, object permanence, Diathesis-Stress Model). However, I think that most intro psychology texts have secular Humanist overtones in certain areas, which doesn¹t thrill me. So, to illustrate, I don't refer to humans as animals or
say that sex outside of marriage is ok. I do point out factors that protect against teen sexual behavior and research that suggests that cohabitation is accompanied by many negative characteristics.

Perhaps I should also mention that they are tending toward an etext. Although personally I prefer to hold books in my hands, it seems like the way of the future.

If you think you might possibly be interested or if you would like more information or would like to see a sample chapter, please contact me off-list by email or phone. Either way, thanks very much for your consideration and best wishes.

Doug Krull
krull@nku.edu
(859) 572-6653
Department of Psychological Science
Northern Kentucky University

The Five Stages of Grading

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Creative Protest

Time has a brief story on a creative way that two French women are protesting the "burqa ban". For more background on the ban, here is a CNN article. There are plenty more stories online if you search at Google News.

Poll: Religion, Sexual Orientation and Suicide

Results of a poll conducted in the U.s. indicate that most respondents agree that "religious messages contribute to a higher rate of suicide among gay and lesbian youth". The brief report is worth reading.

Facebook- Evolutionary Psych of Religion

There is a new facebook page for Evolutionary Psychology of Religion. If you use facebook, you might want to visit the page.

Academic Freedom Decision in Religion Case

Inside Higher Ed reports a decision in a high-profile case involving the academic freedom of an adjunct faculty member teaching religion courses. The faculty member taught at a course on Catholicism at a state university, University of Illinois. After sending an email that some considered offensive he was dismissed. The story is well worth reading if you have interest in religious issues or academic freedom.

Research Methods Workshop

A workshop on methods in the study of non-religion and secularity will be offered in December at the University of Cambridge. The announcement follows:

Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network.s Methods Series

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | PPSIS, University of Cambridge

It can reasonably be said that what is most glaringly absent from current studies of those who are not traditionally religious is a qualitative understanding of the ways in which different types of .nones. construct their moral frameworks and meaning systems. . Creativity and determination is (sic) needed in order to study non-traditionally religious people in a more qualitative manner.
O.Brian Baker & Smith, Dec 2009, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

The study of nonreligion poses particular challenges to qualitative researchers. Whatever its form (nonreligion can be any position or practice defined primarily by its relationship of difference to religion; examples are atheism, agnosticism and secularity), nonreligion is less easy to spot than formalised religious practice or affiliation and tends to have very few dedicated institutional or associational manifestations. Without qualitative research, however, the burgeoning nonreligion and
secularity studies will soon hit a glass ceiling. Qualitative research in this area is urgently needed. The first of a series of methodology-focused events, this NSRN workshop will begin to explore these challenges and opportunities.

DISCUSSION TOPICS will include:
. Achievements of qualitative nonreligion research to date
. Conceptual issues facing qualitative nonreligious studies
. Nonreligious populations and sampling methods
. Ethnographic approaches to non-institutional or associational cultures
. Researching institutional nonreligion (e.g. atheist meet-ups, secularist campaign groups)
. Cultural and media studies approaches to New Atheism and other nonreligion discourses
. New methods and nonreligious .objects.: can visual methods, video diaries, walkabouts., social network analysis and other innovative research methods be used to research nonreligion?
. The relationship between qualitative nonreligious research and quantitative work: past, present and future

QUALITATIVE METHODS WORKSHOP

Methods for Nonreligion and Secularity Studies Series
THE WORKSHOP is open to anyone with an interest in qualitative approaches to nonreligiosity and secularity, but applications from social science researchers (including those from history and religious studies) are especially encouraged. It will enable researchers at the planning stages of a project to scrutinise and develop their research designs, and for those who are currently working in the field or have completed research into nonreligiosity to reflect on these methodologies, their successes and shortcomings.

The workshop will also be of interest to those approaching nonreligion, secularity or related topics using quantitative methodologies, to consider how qualitative projects and/or findings might enrich that work and vice versa. It may also be of interest to those not specifically working in the subject area but interested in innovative approaches to the study of Modernity.

We hope that the workshop will provide a friendly and supportive environment for researchers to discuss and develop qualitative approaches to nonreligion and secularity, and to inspire new lines of enquiry and research designs. Participants will be asked to give an informal 10 minute summary of their research or research interests in the area of qualitative nonreligion studies. To apply to participate, please email us at conference@nsrn.co.uk with a short summary of your interest and/or research activity in this area.

All applications to be received by Friday 24 September 2010
Location: Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International
Studies
Free School Lane site
University of Cambridge
Date: Tuesday 14 December 2010
10am . 5pm (TBC)
Fees: FREE
Lunch and other refreshments will be available for a small charge

Please email us at conference@nsrn.co.uk if you have any questions about
this event.
Best wishes
Lois Lee and Stacey Gutkowski
Workshop conveners
Co-directors, Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network