What They Don't Know
CAN Hurt Them
Ryan Curtis, Ph.D.
Ast. Dir. of Undergraduate Studies
Scott Roberts, Ph.D.
Dir. of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Psychology
University of Maryland
38th Annual Conference
February 1, 2013
Log in to channel 23
PRESS:
• (Ch) or (Go)
• (4)
• (1)
• (Ch) or (Go)
The green light should
display for 2 seconds
You are now ready to respond
Which of these poses the greatest risk to a
college students success?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Alcohol abuse
Drug abuse
Abusive relationships
Academic dishonesty
Unprotected sexual intercourse
All are equally problematic
None are a problem for my students
Poll
47%
34%
13%
3%
3%
0%
1
2
3
4
0%
5
6
7
How much money did the average person in
this room make last year?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
< $50,000
$50,001-$60,000
$60,001-$70,000
$70,001-$80,000
$80,001-$90,000
$90,001-$100,000
$100,001-$110,000
$110,001-$120,000
>$120,001
Poll
42%
39%
13%
3%
1
2
3
4
3%
5
0%
0%
0%
0%
6
7
8
9
How much money did YOU make last year?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
< $50,000
$50,001-$60,000
$60,001-$70,000
$70,001-$80,000
$80,001-$90,000
$90,001-$100,000
$100,001-$110,000
$110,001-$120,000
>$120,001
Poll
70%
10%
7%
7%
3%
3%
0%
1
2
3
4
5
6
0%
0%
7
8
9
Assumption Errors
 Assumptions are the best predictors of
Jonesian Intelligence (Jacobs, 1998)
 Assumption Errors are bad
 Have been linked with risky alcohol
consumption (Prentice & Miller, 1993) and
sexual behavior (Hines, et al. 2002)
Assumption Errors
 Assumptions are the best predictors of
Jonesian Intelligence (Jacobs, 1998)
I totally
made
this up
 Assumption Errors are bad
 Have been linked with risky alcohol
consumption (Prentice & Miller, 1993) and
sexual behavior (Hines, et al. 2002)
This part
is true
Questions?
Pluralistic Ignorance
I’m confused, but
everyone else seems
to understand
https://depts.washington.edu/etuwb/ltblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/college-students-classroom.jpg (modified)
Pluralistic Ignorance
Questions?
?
?
?
?
?
https://depts.washington.edu/etuwb/ltblog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/college-students-classroom.jpg (modified)
?
Pluralistic Ignorance
Everyone in the
group is different
from me…
Multiple members
of the group share
this assumption
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whOKbNHf3As/T4B3rRRAuTI/AAAAAAAAAz8/7JkGXzG7ul8/s400/you.jpg
What’s Wrong with Feeling Unique?
Everyone else was
getting drunk…
Last Friday
Night?
… and then had sex
http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/08/30/250633/drinking1.jpg http://www.totallifecounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/College-Binge-Drinking-400x260.jpg http://thumb9.shutterstock.com/thumb_large/401815/401815,1328794249,4/stock-photo-teenagegirl-tired-of-reading-sleeping-on-the-bed-with-a-book-on-her-face-isolated-on-white-94764160.jpg
ACTUAL Norm
“Getting 'drunk' frequently is ok because it is
an important part of the college experience”
http://campusinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/silhouette-dancing-people.jpg
Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)
ERRONEOUS Norm
“Getting 'drunk' frequently is ok because it is
an important part of the college experience”
http://campusinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/silhouette-dancing-people.jpg
Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)
Fundamental Attribution Error
I only drink like
this on special
occasions.
But these guys
really love to drink!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUw8r4Fyr9I/ToH_If5JPoI/AAAAAAAAAVU/xrJnD_jfce4/s1600/doing_shots.jpg
We tend to do what we think is normal…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9349642@N07/3611036085/sizes/l/
…because no one wants to be rejected…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaswinterer/2222245735/sizes/l/
Serious and Silly Norms
Asch (1951) “Line Study”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2NduSCLiMA
http://cdn04.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hale-jjhp/lucy-hale-chris-zylka-just-jared-halloween-party-04.jpg
Consequences of Perceived Disconnect
http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/08/30/250633/drinking1.jpg http://timewellness.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/h_14272279.jpg?w=360&h=240&crop=1 http://im.glogster.com/media/1/1/28/7/1280715.jpg
(Prentice & Miller, 1993)
150-Seat Sections of PSYC 100
Classmate?
UMD Student?
You?
http://www.ashleypettitliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/alcoholic-beverages.jpg http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/181r8oee0jpbdjpg/xlarge.jpg
The Results
6
5
4
Actual
3
Assumed
PSYC100
Assumed UMD
2
1
0
Alcohol
Hookups
Drugs
The Results
6
5
4
Actual
3
Assumed
PSYC100
Assumed UMD
2
1
0
Alcohol
Hookups
Drugs
Academic Dishonesty
Actual
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Learned
Helped cheat
what's on test
on test
Copied on
test
Unauthorized Working with Paraphrasing
test aid
others
paper
Copying
Paper
Other's work False lab data
Academic Dishonesty
Actual
Assumed Class
Assumed UMD
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Learned
Helped cheat
what's on test
on test
Copied on
test
Unauthorized Working with Paraphrasing
test aid
others
paper
Copying
Paper
Other's work False lab data
 Note – insert comparison on salaries
Did your parents/guardians offer you rewards for
good grades as a child?
70%
70%
< $50,000
10%
10%
$50,001-$60,000
7%
7%
$60,001-$70,000
3%
3%
$70,001-$80,000
$80,001-$90,000
0%
0%
7%
7%
$90,001-$100,000
$100,001-$110,000
0%
0%
$110,001-$120,000
0%
0%
>$120,001
3%
3%
First Slide
Second Slide
Teaching Conference Results
Assumed
Actual
Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)
 Discussion group
 Peer-focused
• Show data on pluralistic ignorance
 Individual-focused
• How to make responsible decisions
Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)
 4-6 months later…
Individual
Peer
Drinks per Week
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Men
Women
Combating Ignorance (Schroeder & Prentice,1998)
 4-6 months later…
Individual
Peer
Drinks per Week
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Men
Women
In Class
 Technologies
 Clickers
• Clickers.umd.edu
 Poll everywhere
• Polleverywhere.com
 Low Tech
 Post-Its
Out of Class
 Technologies
 Surveys
• Blackboard/Canvas
• Qualtrics/Surveymonkey/Googledocs
 Wiki
 Blog
 Discussion Board
How would you use clickers to
combat assumption errors?
Feedback from Students
 “I loved that the clickers were able to show us
information about the others around me while
keeping it anonymous. It taught me a great deal
about pluralistic ignorance.”
 “It was interactive, it told us what the reality was in
our class and shed light on the concept of
pluralistic ignorance. My expectations were very
different than the reality often times. It showed us
things that were counter intuitive so that we paid
attention when you told us what the actual answer
is.”
Thank you!
Ryan Curtis, Ph.D.
curtis@umd.edu
Scott Roberts, Ph.D.
scott@umd.edu
Department of Psychology
University of Maryland
38th Annual Conference
February 1, 2013