question-a simple yes or no-might be oversimplifying.

It is more worthwhile to
ask what type of psychotherapy, practiced by whom, is most helpful for what kind of
problem?
7. Do not overgeneralize: Consider the statement that one cannot learn about
humans by engaging in research with nonhuman animals. Is the truth of the matter
an all-or-nothing issue? Are there certain kinds of information we can obtain about
people from research with animals? What kinds of things are you likely to learn
only through research with people?
Apply critical thinking to all areas of life: A skeptical attitude and a demand

for evidence are not only useful in college but are of value in all areas of life. Be

skeptical when you are bombarded by TV commercials, when political causes try

to sweep you up, and when you see the latest stories about Elvis and UFO sight
ings in supermarket tabloids.

These are the kinds of principles that guide psychologists' thinking as they observe
behavior, engage in research, or advise clients on how to improve their lives. Perhaps
these principles will help you improve the quality of your own life, too.

..,

CRITICAL THII\;KiNG.

SORTING TRUTH FRO/"!

FICTlO!'l.t

"A great many people think they

are thinking when they are merely'
rearranging their prejudices ....
WILLIAM JAMES

THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT

PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVICE ON
THE INTERNET: ARE THERE ANY
QUICK FIXES?
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
www.cdc.gov
www.suicide.org
www. ni m h. nih .gov/health/topicS/j ndex.shtm I
http://panicdisorder.about.com

www.depression.com
www.apa.org
These are just a few of the websites offering psychological ad
vice that have flooded the Internet in recent years. These happen
to be reliable. However, many are not, and lonely people, anx

ious people, depressed people, confused people, and people with

sexual problems surf the Internet every day in hope of finding the

website that will provide tbe answer. How can they evaluate the
merits of the websites theY'find?
There are no easy answers. Many of us believe the things we
see posted, and anecdotes about how Tyrone lost 30 pounds in
two months and how Maria learned to read her textbooks 10 times
more rapidly-and increased her comprehension!--can have a
powerful allure.
Be on guard. A price we pay for freedom of speech is that
nearly anything can wind up posted on

a website or in print (Wu, 2009). Au

thors can make extravagant claims with

little fear of punishment. They can lie

about the effectiveness of a new cure for

acne or for feelings of depression as

easily as they can lie about sight

ings of Elvis Presley or UFOs.

How can you protect yourself?

Try some critical thinking:

1. In this instance, do "judge the

book by its cover." Does the
website look well organized? Do

.. I

the links within the webpages work? A credible website will

look professional and will be well maintained.
2. Ignore websites that make extravagant claims. If it sounds too
good to be true, it probably is. No method helps everyone who
tries it. Very few methods work overnight.

3. Check the credentials of the people who posted the informa

tion. Be suspicious if the author's title is "Dr." and is placed
before the name. The degree could be a phony doctorate
bought through the mail. It is better if the "doctor" has a
Ph.D., Psy.D., M.D., or E!J.D. after her or his name.
4. Check authors' affiliations. Professionals who are affiliated
with colleges, universities, clinics, and hospitals may have

more to offer than those who are not.

5. Check the evidence reported on the website. Unscientific

websites (and books) usually make extensive use of personal

anecdotes-1.Jnsupported stories or case studies about fantas

tic results with one or a few individuals. Responsible helping

professionals test the effectiveness of techniques with large

numbers of people. They carefully measure the outcomes.

They use cautious language. For example, they say, "It ap

pears that ..." or, "It may be that .... "

6. Check the reference citations for the evidence. Le

gitimate research is reported in the journals or on the

websites you will find in the "References" section

of this book. If there are no links

to reference citations, or if the

references look suspicious, you

should be suspicious, too.

7. Ask your instructor for advice

on what to do, where to go (elec
,[ tronically, perhaps), whom to talk
~ to, what to read.

~ 8. Talk to someone in your college

@ or university counseling center.