Influence of research methods and statistics courses on everyday reasoning, critical abilities, and belief in unsubstantiated phenomena.

Examined whether undergraduate courses in psychology research methods (RM) and statistics (STAT) improve general reasoning skills and scientific critical abilities. 76 students concurrently enrolled in introductory RM and STAT were assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: a baseline group, a group that was tested after completion of RM and STAT, and a group that completed RM and STAT and also received 3 tutorial sessions. 19 students in a humanities program provided a comparison group. All Ss were assessed on tests of general reasoning and of critical abilities. Ss also completed a questionnaire that assessed their willingness to endorse scientifically unsubstantiated phenomena. The RM and STAT courses by themselves did not enhance Ss' general reasoning skills or critical abilities. The group receiving tutorial sessions in addition to the RM and STAT performed better than the baseline group. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)