Research Methods: A Modular Approach By Sherri L. Jackson
Publisher: Wa['dsw]orth Pub[[lishi]'ng; 2 edition 2010 | 466 Pages | ISBN: 049581119X | PDF | 5 MB
APPROACH Sherri Jackson's RESEARCH METHODS: A MODULAR combines a lively writing style with a novel approach to offer a refreshing alternative for the research methods course. Topics are treated in relatively compact units that, though logically sequenced, can be used in any order. The critical thinking theme that threads through the book engages your thinking by asking you to continually evaluate evidence. .Brief, yet comprehensive, this text will help you master the material in an engaging way.
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Franck Frommer, "How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid: The Faulty Causality, Sloppy Logic, Decontextualized Data, and Seductive Showmanship That Have Taken Over Our Thinking"
N-wPr-ss | 2012 | ISBN-10: 1595587020 | PDF | 288 pages | 4,6 MB
With over 500 million users worldwide, Microsoft’s PowerPoint software has become the ubiquitous tool for nearly all forms of public presentation—in schools, government agencies, the military, and, of course, offices everywhere. In this revealing and powerfully argued book, author Franck Frommer shows us that PowerPoint’s celebrated ease and efficiency actually mask a profoundly disturbing but little-understood transformation in human communication.
Using fascinating examples (including the most famous PowerPoint presentation of all: Colin Powell’s indictment of Iraq before the United Nations), Frommer systematically deconstructs the slides, bulleted lists, and flashy graphics we all now take for granted. He shows how PowerPoint has promoted a new, slippery “grammar,” where faulty causality, sloppy logic, decontextualized data, and seductive showmanship have replaced the traditional tools of persuasion and argument.
How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid includes a fascinating mini-history of PowerPoint’s emergence, as well as a sobering and surprising account of its reach into the most unsuspecting nooks of work, life, and education. For anyone concerned with the corruption of language, the dumbing-down of society, or the unchecked expansion of “efficiency” in our culture, here is a book that will become a rallying cry for turning the tide.
http://rapidgator.net/file/1474317/1...erPoi.pdf.html
http://filepost.com/files/d5f4b932/1..._PowerPoi.pdf/
Shawn Hedman - A First Course in Logic: An Introduction to Model Theory, Proof Theory, Computability, and Complexity
Publisher: Oxfоrd Univеrsity Prеss | 2004-09-29 | ISBN: 0198529813, 0198529805 | PDF | 452 pages | 6.84 MB
The ability to reason and think in a logical manner forms the basis of learning for most mathematics, computer science, philosophy and logic students. Based on the author's teaching notes at the University of Maryland and aimed at a broad audience, this text covers the fundamental topics in classical logic in an extremely clear, thorough and accurate style that is accessible to all the above. Covering propositional logic, first-order logic, and second-order logic, as well as proof theory, computability theory, and model theory, the text also contains numerous carefully graded exercises and is ideal for a first or refresher course.
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Ivan Moscovich "Fiendishly Difficult Visual Perception Puzzles"
St--ling Pub | ISBN: 0806982683 | 1991 | Djvu | 64 pages | 4,4 MB
To start things going, let's look at the different approaches that can be useful in solving puzzles.
First, the logical approach. Logic is always valuable, as it helps you work things out sequentially, using information received to progress step by step to the answer. In this book there are some puzzles in which logic is the perfect aid to finding the solution. As you might expect from its title, Computer
Patterns is one of these.
In problem solving, there may also be a need for an 'indirect' approach, whereby you arrive at an answer by perceiving and thinking about a subject in a way you have never done before. This depends on how you think normally, of course, and so for some people it may be helpful for certain puzzles, and for others for different ones.
The insight that leads you to an alternative way of solving the second part of Count the Cubes is a typical example.
The visual approach is also important, especially in this book because all the puzzles are presented in visual terms and require initial visual comprehension (or conceptualization) to be combined with understanding the text of the problem. This is an obvious requirement for puzzles of
shape and form, most particularly where shapes must be searched for, as in Hidden Shapes,
In general, the visual perception puzzlers in this book are of four types. They are concerned with:
1. distinguishing shapes (in 2 or 3 dimensions), especially where they have been broken up or dissected;
2. the orientation and reorientation of shapes;
3. comprehending changes in shape following specified transformations or changes in given circumstances,-
4. visualizing and conceptualizing shapes or patterns from linear information (such as plans or maps).
Examples of all four types are given on the following pages, together with the answers.
See if you can solve them first without looking at the answers - then go on to enjoy the rest of the book!
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Ivan Moscovich "Fiendishly Difficult Math Puzzles"
St--ling Pub | ISBN: 0806982705 | 1991 | Djvu | 64 pages | 3,6 MB
To start things going, let's look at the different approaches that can be useful in solving puzzles.
First, the logical approach. Logic is always valuable, as it helps you work things out sequentially, using information received to progress step by step to the answer.
This is especially true when puzzles tend to be oriented toward mathematics and concentrate on using numbers for simple calculations, or on ordering arrangements of objects or figures. Examples of this can be found in the games Magic Numbers.
In problem solving, there may also be a need for an indirect' approach, whereby you arrive at an answer by perceiving and thinking about a subject in a way you have never done before. This depends on how you think normally, of course, and so for some people it may be helpful for certain puzzles, and for others for different ones.
The first part of Match Blocks is solved most simply, quickly, easily and elegantly' using an 'indirect' approach of this kind.
The visual approach is also important, especially in this book because all the puzzles are presented in visual terms and require initial visual omprehension (or conceptualization) to be combined with understanding the text of the problem. This is particularly the case with the tricky
puzzle set as The 18-point Problem.
In general, the math puzzlers in this book are of four types. They are concerned with:
1. simple calculation using patterns, objects or symbols;
2. spotting ****** links and connections;
3. the laws of chance and probability - particularly in assessing the odds for or against specific events or results occurring;
4. ordering, combining or grouping objects or figures, following a defined rule, to achieve a stated target.
Examples of all four types are given on the following pages, together with the answers.
See if you can solve them first without looking at the answers - then go on to enjoy the rest of the book!
http://filepost.com/files/fcmd846f/0...hPuzzles.djvu/
Christian Schuh, "The Purchasing Ches***ard: 64 Methods to Reduce Costs and Increase Value with Suppliers"
Publisher: S***ing***; 2nd ed. | ISBN: 1461422205 | 2012 | PDF | 244 pages | 3.4 MB
The approach used on a given spend item should largely depend on the balance between supply power and demand power. That is the logic behind the bestselling Purchasing Ches***ard®, used by hundreds of corporations worldwide to reduce costs and increase value with suppliers. The 64 squares in the Purchasing Ches***ard provide a rich reservoir of methods that can be applied either individually or combined. And because many of these methods are not customarily used by procurement, the Purchasing Ches***ard is also the perfect tool for helping buyers to think and act outside the box and find new solutions. A well-proven concept that works across all industries and all categories in any given situation, it is little wonder that business leaders and procurement professionals alike are excited by, and enjoy strategizing around, the Purchasing Ches***ard. This second edition of The Purchasing Ches***ard addresses the new realities of a highly volatile economic environment and describes the many—sometimes surprising—ways in which the Purchasing Ches***ard is being used in today's business world. Yet despite all of the great achievements of procurement executives and their teams, they do not always receive the recognition they deserve. In response, the authors have developed and outlined within the book an unequivocal approach to measure procurement’s impact on a company’s performance—Return on Supply Management Assets (ROSMA®).
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Robert B. Talisse, Steven M. Cahn, "Thinking about Logic: Classic Essays"
W-stview Pr-ss | 2010 | ISBN-10: 0813344697 | PDF | 224 pages | 1,1 MB
Thinking about Logic is an accessible and thought-provoking collection of classic articles in the philosophy of logic. An ideal companion to any formal logic course or textbook, this volume illuminates how logic relates to perennial philosophical issues about knowledge, meaning, rationality, and reality. The editors have selected each essay for its brevity, clarity, and impact and have included insightful introductions and discussion questions. The puzzles raised will help readers acquire a more thorough understanding of fundamental logic concepts and a firmer command of the connections between formal logic and other areas of philosophical study: epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, and metaphysics.
http://filepost.com/files/faebe785/0...697_Logic.pdf/
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
Taught By Professor Steven Novella, M.D., Georgetown University, Yale School of Medicine Course No. 9344
Publisher: The Great Courses 2012 | ISBN n/a | Language English | Audio CD in MP3 + Course Guidebook + Starter Materials | 24 Lectures ~ 30 minutes / lecture | 555 MB
The Necessity of Thinking about Thinking
The Neuroscience of Belief
Errors of Perception
Flaws and Fabrications of Memory
Pattern Recognition—Seeing What’s Not There
Our Constructed Reality
The Structure and Purpose of Argument
Logic and Logical Fallacies
Heuristics and Cognitive Biases
Poor at Probability—Our Innate Innumeracy
Toward Better Estimates of What’s Probable
Culture and Mass Delusions
Philosophy and Presuppositions of Science
Science and the Supernatural
Varieties and Quality of Scientific Evidence
Great Scientific Blunders
Science versus Pseudoscience
The Many Kinds of Pseudoscience
The Trap of Grand Conspiracy Thinking
Denialism—Rejecting Science and History
Marketing, Scams, and Urban Legends
Science, Media, and Democracy
Experts and Scientific Consensus
Critical Thinking and Science in Your Life
What should you think? Who should you believe? Could you be deceiving yourself? These are questions that all critical thinkers of any age must constantly ask themselves.
There is no more important skill in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in a way that is both effective and responsible. Critical thinking transforms you from a passive member of society into an active participant in the ideas and issues of the day. It empowers you to better understand nearly every single aspect of everyday life, from health and nutrition to science and technology to philosophical and spiritual belief systems.
What's more: At no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. Information is literally everywhere around you; in newspapers and magazines, on the radio and television, and across the Internet. But as the amount of information out there increases, so too does the amount of misinformation. So it's more important than ever before to become a better critical thinker—someone who can analyze and construct arguments and arrive at more sound, more informed opinions. And the key to success lies in
understanding the neuroscience behind how our thinking works—and goes wrong;
mastering the fundamental skills behind logic, reasoning, and argumentation;
avoiding common pitfalls and errors in thinking, such as logical fallacies and biases; and
knowing how to distinguish good science from pseudoscience.
All this and more you can find in the 24 rewarding lectures of Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills. Dr. Steven Novella of the Yale School of Medicine—an academic neurologist, award-winning instructor, and public educator—equips you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life. By immersing yourself in the science of cognitive biases and critical thinking, and by learning how to think about thinking (a practice known as metacognition), you'll gain concrete lessons for doing so more critically, more intelligently, and more successfully than ever before.
Explore the Inner Workings of Critical Thinking
Our brains, according to Dr. Novella, are our greatest strength as critical thinkers. But they can also be the source of many weaknesses and impairments in critical thought. In Your Deceptive Mind, you'll take a closer look at the neuroscientific details of critical thinking and how the (often unfamiliar) ways in which our brains are hardwired can distract and prevent us from getting to the truth of a particular matter:
The neuroscience of critical thinking: Approach the act of thinking not as some abstract concept but as an action rooted deep within your brain. In clear, easy-to-understand language, Dr. Novella takes you deep inside this powerful organ to examine how you form beliefs, perceive your surroundings, and remember events.
Biases and problems in critical thinking: The key to success as a critical thinker lies in understanding the range of biases and problems that can stand in the way of reason and truth. You'll encounter—and learn how to deftly sidestep—fallacies such as retrofitting of evidence, collective wish fulfillment, reliance on "factoids,” and ad hominem arguments.
Science and pseudoscience: Knowing how to separate science (the foundation of critical thought) from pseudoscience is of the utmost importance to any well-rounded critical thinker. Here, you'll investigate common examples of pseudoscience that surround us every day—from the denial of established evidence to the belief in grand conspiracies.
Along the way, you'll sample a range of illuminating case studies, experiments, and observations from nutrition, science, technology, mass culture, and even politics; all of which vividly illustrate the core components of (and threats to) responsible critical thinking. These include
how purported sightings of UFOs, ghosts, and Bigfoot are, in reality, plagued by a host of cognitive flaws that also reveal secrets about how we all make sense of unexplainable events;
how functional MRI scans have demonstrated that different parts of our brain work together to construct an aggregate consciousness and sense of reality;
how a 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds so easily incited mass hysteria in listeners and actually convinced them that an alien invasion was at hand; and
how reactions to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy illustrate the inherent tendency in human beings to fall into the cognitive trap of grand conspiracies.
Unpack the Critical Thinker's Toolbox
Throughout Your Deceptive Mind, Professor Novella provides you with a critical thinker's toolbox that you can use to better assess the quality of information or to make a more informed decision.
The smaller the scientific study, the greater you should be concerned about the potential for statistical noise. Larger scientific studies are often needed for the random effects to average out so that a more reliable answer can be arrived at.
While it's important to remember that emotions have an influence on an individual's thought processes, it's dangerous to completely deny them when analyzing information or trying to make an informed decision.
Learn to be comfortable with the uncertainty of the world. The truth is that there is no single guarantee of legitimacy when it comes to scientific information, only solid indicators of legitimacy.
Be particularly on guard when dealing with controversial subjects frequently covered in the media. The more controversial a topic, the greater the chances are that information about that topic is skewed in one direction or another.
These invaluable tips, techniques, and strategies are only a few of what you'll find in these lectures.
And that's not all. Your Deceptive Mind's greatest strength lies in Professor Novella's delivery and engagement with the material. In addition to being a master teacher, he is an expert on critical thinking and its intersection with science. President and cofounder of the New England Skeptical Society and the host of its award-winning show, The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, Professor Novella has dedicated himself to increasing the public's ability to use critical thinking skills to better navigate the mass of information (and misinformation) in today's highly mediated world.
And the world is only going to get more and more saturated with information. So take the initiative and become better prepared to make sense of it all with this intriguing and rewarding course. While these lectures can't read the news or make decisions for you, they'll undoubtedly give you the concrete knowledge for doing so more intelligently.
About Your Professor
Dr. Steven Novella is an academic neurologist at the Yale School of Medicine. He earned his M.D. from Georgetown University and completed his residency training in neurology at Yale University. Dr. Novella is active in both clinical research and in medical education at every level, including patients, the public, medical students, and health professionals.
An expert in neuroscience, Dr. Novella focuses his practice on neuromuscular disorders and headache. His personal blog, NeuroLogica Blog, is considered one of the top neuroscience blogs and covers issues in neuroscience as well as the intersection of science with the media and society. Dr. Novella is also the founder and senior editor of Science-Based Medicine, a medical blog dedicated to promoting the highest standards of basic and clinical science in medical practice.
Dr. Novella is president and cofounder of the New England Skeptical Society, a nonprofit educational organization designed to promote science and reason. As the host and producer of the organization's award-winning science show, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, Dr. Novella explores the latest scientific discoveries, the presentation of science in the mainstream media, and public understanding and attitudes toward science.
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Kuang-Ming Wu, "Story-Thinking: Cultural Meditations"
N,,,a S..nce | 2011 | ISBN: 1617286192 | 460 pages | PDF | 4,2 MB
Story-thinking is direct actuality-thinking; actuality is active and alive, never set or formal but free and reasonable. Actuality is things as they are alive, actively actualising themselves, birthing unceasing. They sound forth to resound, vibrate to inter-vibrate, tell to retell it, to reveal-R to express-E it. This 'R to E' is not logically inferential, free of inferential error. Such R-to-E process dialogically transmits across an instant as 'story-thinking'. Story-thinking primordially hears of actuality to story-express it. Thus, actuality sounds itself - tells its story - to a sensitive hearer who retells the story-actual in her own resonance, and her vibration is 'storytelling'. Actuality tells and is heard, and storytelling comes about. Story-thinking begins at storytelling to continue storytelling, this way.
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