Research

Welcome to the index of my site!

Here’s a few ‘easy to find’ links to my blog entries that are more research-based and essay-length. Let me know if there’s a topic you think I should tackle.

Superstition and Skepticism

Classic Science Paper: Belief in Fortune Telling Amongst College Students – an investigation into an early paper on paranormal beliefs and superstitions from the 1930s. What has changed since?

‘Tis the Season For Superstition – My students and rituals, luck and traditions and the season to get hoping.

Women and Superstitions – Part One – The beginning of my ‘literature review online’ regarding sex, gender, superstition, age, current paranormal belief scales and their popularity.

Women and Superstitions – Part Two – Yes, there’s more! Getting into cultural differences, economic and social reasons to be into the weird.

Women and Superstitions – Part Three – Taking the study onto the beliefs of young people and the contribution of sports superstitions and 9/11 conspiracy theories and their popularity. What studies have been done?

Women and Superstitions – Part Four – In a response to a question about culture, I do some research.

Skepticism and Education

Running A Skeptical Quiz Competition At A SiTP – a little practical advice about communicating skepticism in a fun way.

Teachers On The Front Line – Teaching Skepticism And Stepping Up – Recent developments on the teaching of evolution in Florida may very well teach some lessons to those who wish to promote skepticism in schools.

Live Blogging At The ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ Panel At Dragon*Con – This is what happens if you have a laptop, a conference and a space on the floor. You just start tapping out what’s going on. This is an account of the ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ Skeptic Track panel at the 2008 Dragon*Con in Atlanta.

‘Why Can’t A Teacher Be More Like A Scientist?’ – Views and interpretations of science claims in schools and critically evaluating practices that need further testing in education. Just how tough is it?

Skeptical Books for Children – Part One; Part Two and Part Three and Part Four and Skeptical Books For Children – Part Five – An ongoing series for parents, educators, authors and those enthusiastic about outreach to the younger years.

Classic Science Paper: Belief in Fortune Telling Amongst College Students – an investigation into an early paper on paranormal beliefs and superstitions from the 1930s. What has changed since?

Philosophy in WA – Interested in philosophy, children, critical thinking and what research is being done? You might like to check out the progress in my country and how we’re testing the efficacy of P4C and teaching skepticism to kids.

The Australian Journey Of Philosophy In Schools – The TANK Vodcast episode on P4C in Australia.

Thinking About Thinking – Philosophy And Teachers – An account of helping facilitate day one of Level 1 training in P4C.

Back To Work With P4C! – Continuing efforts with educational outreach for school communities with P4C in Western Australia.

‘Tis the Season For Superstition – My students and rituals, luck and traditions and the season to get hoping.

Chalk It Up To Forensic Science – a lecture presentation at a local Science Education centre provides not only insights to the minds behind crime-solving… but how the public perception mind the messages on TV.

Darwin Day – For Kids – My own response to Darwin Day? Get reading, kids!

The Specialness Of Species – Reflections on diversity, taxonomy, skepticism and the contributions of Dr Seuss! Please, don’t eat the daffodils.

Science For Mums! – Outreach by science programs in Australia to help educate parents towards pro-science attitudes. Don’t forget to check out www.mumsinscience.net/!

Going Backwards – Ever wanted some improvements on how you discuss back-masking and the notion of subliminal messages in songs? Here’s a few comedic takes that you can use and some references on the topic.

Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Science And Sex – Book review on Mary Roach’s inquiries into… uh, bonking.

Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All – Book review on the claims of alternative medicine.

The Name Experiment – Looking at the source of a perennial science festival experiment by Dr Richard Wiseman.

Education and Selling Skepticism – On communicating skepticism, Penn Jillette’s view on education and so-called extension education classes.

Did You Steal That Gorilla? – an interesting twist on advertising crossing the line and taking the banana.

Called Lucky? – Looking at the luck factor.

Dr Karl and the Eyes Have It – Investigating claims made in a lecture by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

Wising Up To Wiseman’s Tricks – An investigation of ‘Quirkology’ claims.

Smart Bitches, Not Meerly Sex – Romance, literature… uh, sexy animals? An essay that shows how love and plagiarism points the way to science appreciation and integration. Chosen post for the 2008 Open Lab Science Blogging Awards!

Trick Question? – An issue that got me being an activist; abstinence-only education in schools by fundamentalists.

Emails I Love Getting – Got hoaxes? I got answers! Some links and directions.

Skepticism and Sex

On Women, Paranormal Belief And When Yahoo Answers Wrong – recent research into the influence of neuroscience and surveys on sex differences and belief.

Women and Superstitions – Part One – The beginning of my ‘literature review online’ regarding sex, gender, superstition, age, current paranormal belief scales and their popularity.

Women and Superstitions – Part Two – Yes, there’s more! Getting into cultural differences, economic and social reasons to be into the weird.

Women and Superstitions – Part Three – Taking the study onto the beliefs of young people and the contribution of sports superstitions and 9/11 conspiracy theories and their popularity. What studies have been done?

Women and Superstitions – Part Four – In a response to a question about culture, I do some research.

Step To It Science Superstitions (I Don’t Cheerlead In These Shoes) – What exactly does my research involve? And why don’t I find my shoes as important as the stats?

Winter Of Research And Retention, Gender, Sex And Science – I ponder how many of the young women I spoke to as a part of my research will hurdle the barriers of society, social norms, economic disadvantage, geographical isolation and competition to achieve their goals – and what effective strategies exist beyond ‘making science seem cool for girls’.

Girls Got What? Competitions, Science Careers and Benefits – an investigation into whether it’s really just brains or really just well-established strategy. It doesn’t SEEM to be about gender, after all…

She’s Already Got Science – Women, Skepticism And The Need For More Research – I question just how much real thinking is going on with skeptical groups and the promises of ‘grassroots activism in skepticism’… when compared to other organizations who claim the same goals…

Why Dragon*Con? – A look at the factors that influence conference attendance for women and encouraging a wider range of approaches when finding an audience.

The Sarah Silverman Of Skepticism – I get comical, historical, psychological, cultural – all in the one post! No, I’m not doing anything on video with Matt Damon, sorry.

Mind The Gap? – Women, sex, gender, science, boys, girls, reading and why reading strategies should be applied to all learners regardless. An offshoot of my Skeptic books for Children sequence.

‘Tis the Season For Superstition – My students and rituals, luck and traditions and the season to get hoping.

Looking Good – Scientifically – I unpack some research on the sex appeal of specs.

This Is All You Got In This Size? – Book reviews of ‘Full Frontal Feminism’, ‘Citizen Girl’, ‘She’s Such a Geek – Women Write about Science, Technology and Other Nerdy Stuff’.

Remembering Science’s Gift – For a Girl – Short appreciative item on what it means for those in third-world countries.

Gender Generic Kitty – Why should we bias against kitty wear?

The Changing Face Of Tattoos – A look at how embracing tattoo art has resulted in a change of attitudes towards the subculture – led by mothers! Includes some interesting science homages too.

Hypnotism, Trances And The Supernatural – And Bowie – Some of the science behind the stories and the women behind the legends.

Quirkology, ‘Clicking’ and Dating Lies – Ah, happens in every relationship. Check the science behind it!

A Girl Called Ellie – Reflections on the lack of real-world women scientists in literature these days.

Political Punditry on McCain’s Magical Thinking – What can be said about prevalence of superstitions in particular careers? What is clear is that the answer is universal and even scientists can feel cool in a ‘magic hat’.

Skepticism and Communication

Wagga Wagga Meeting Skeptics Summary – Hello Ian Bryce! – An overview of the lecture and points raised at the 2008 Australian Skeptics convention at Wagga Wagga.

My Mascot Only Gave Me Sex Appeal – it may seem strange that the Chinese are willing to blame toys for recent disasters but no weirder than other superstitions that work in people’s favour…

Networking, Educating And Getting The Word Out – Some ideas about general outreaching and Level 1 workshop for Philosophy in Schools with a philosophy and skepticism presentation.

Interview with Michael McRae of CSIRO – Michael McRae has done interviews for Skepticality, worked as a teacher and a scientist and much, much more – find out via reading his views on the difference between Science Communication and Science Education.

Educationally Magical – Andrew Mayne – Magician, creator, performer, educator and modern media communicator – Andrew Mayne discusses his journey.

Investigating Skepticism – Interview With Dr Karen Stollznow – Dr Karen Stollznow has worked for Australian Skeptic for many years, written, investigated and demonstrated practically a lifetime devoted to skepticism!

Skepticism And Scholarship – Dr Mark Henn – Interview with Dr Mark Henn, Fulbright scholarship winner, professor of anomalistic psychology and his keen insights on the misuse of labels like ‘skeptic’, ‘believer’ and ‘deluded’.

Strategies For Skepticism: Action, Activism and Getting off your Arse – Part One and Part Two and Part Three – the abridged version of my article published in the Australian Skeptic Journal in 2007.

Psy-Quakes and Radio Skepticism! – Reflections on an interview I did for South-West ABC radio.

Nothing In the ‘Verse Can Stop Me – Skepticism can be poetical as well as a practical approach to weird claims. Just see how poetry and science can work together.

Homeopathy Week: Defying Science For 250 Years – Have a look at the strategies that are being used for homeopathy week. What ideas could we use?

Where DO We Go… Carroll, Loxton, Williams? – Reflections on the Skepticality essay by Daniel Loxton, of Junior Skeptic.