Dear General Psychology Students:
Please click the links below to download the Sleep Debt Measure and the KEY which will allow you 
More information on the importance of sleep can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Download ch_06_sleep_debt_measure.doc
Download ch_06_sleep_debt_key.doc
Since insomnia is often discussed as a possible cause of poor sleep hygiene, I offer the fact sheet below to help you understand the various diagnoses, effects, and possible treatments for this serious problem.
Dear Students:
In 2010, I was honored to receive an invitation to become part of a collaborative effort to educate the public about the importance of sleep. This group, now called the Stanford Sleepwell So
ciety, operates under the auspices of one of the biggest names in sleep research, Stanford University professor/researcher William C. Dement, MD, PhD.
In a previous semester, several members of the Ohlone Psychology Club and some of my other students attended a talk by Dr Dement.
Continue reading "William C. Dement - World's Leading Sleep Researcher..." »
One of the most important factors in becoming a good critical thinker (and, often, a good consumer of science education) is the ability to understand that correlates are not always causally linked. In other words, just because two things happen together in a predictable manner, that doesn't necessarily mean that one is causing the other.
THIS WEBSITE contains numerous examples of very strong correlations between variables that are highly unlikely to have any causal link (e.g., how could the number of people who drown in pools over a decade be caused by the number of films that star Nicolas Cage?).
The news media is often to blame for reporting stories that are only correlationally linked as if they have a causal connection. Being aware of this, as well as having a good understanding of the fallacy, can make us better able to understand the science we read or hear about, and better informed overall.
Dear Students:
Please click the link below to download the sheet explaining how to access and use Canvas and ConferZoom video conferencing.
Download Welcome Letter and Remote Instruction Information
Dear Students,
Over the summer, I took part in an online Zoom class taught by one of my amazing colleagues, Dr. Janice Jones. It was a primer for one of her African American History courses, and although we only met six times in total (each Friday for six weeks), I learned so much that I'd never learned before in my other history classes.
Given the current attention (finally!) being paid to issues of racial injustice in our nation, this class, History 114B, is more important than ever before. You do NOT need to have taken History 114A in order to take this class, by the way! I hope many (or all!) of you will consider taking this important 3-unit course. Dr. Jones is an invaluable resource for learning about this topic, and has decided to offer a second section this term due to its popularity.
To register:
Please contact Dr. Janice Jones at [email protected] if you have any specific questions.
Dear Students,
I’m happy to announce that there is still room in Women’s Studies 101: Intro to Gender and Women’s Studies in the Fall 2020 semester! This course normally fills fast, owing in part to the amazing professor who teaches it, Dr. Heather McCarty!
Dr. McCarty’s knowledge of the intricacies of Gender Studies is extensive, and students will be introduced to a number of cross-sectional aspects of the subject, including those involving psychology and the human experience.
To register:
The class is UC and CSU transferable.
If you have any questions, please email Dr. McCarty at [email protected].
CLICK IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you tonight of the passing of my dear friend, and friend of the college, Magda Brown, who passed away late last night. She had been hospitalized for some time due to a recent injury, and at the age of 93, it was more than her body could take.
Magda visited Ohlone College on several occasions, and was one of the most popular guests in our Ohlone Psychology Club Speaker Series. A survivor of the Holocaust, she devoted the past several decades of her life to fighting against the rise in Holocaust denial around the world, and to spreading her message of love and acceptance to everyone she met. She was a tireless educator, and her calendar was always incredibly packed, sending her traveling to schools, colleges and universities, church groups, mosques, temples, and public auditoriums of all sorts, making clear in each of her talks, “I do not tell you to hate, or not to hate. All I ask is this: think before you do so. Always think.”
James Randi's reputation as a magician and escape artist is a matter of world renown. Although he occasionally still performs small feats, most of his current efforts involve his work as a tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Utilizing a keen scientific mind, Randi - as he prefers to be called - examines claims of paranormal powers and activities all over the world.
A few years ago, I was asked by the James Randi Educational Foundation to contribute to part of their educational efforts. The result of this collaboration was three chapters in their e-book, "Magic in the Classroom." In it, I wrote chapters on the following topics:
Click here to visit the download page where you can get a FREE copy in multiple formats.
Dear Students:
Many of you laughed when I mentioned the Flat Earth Society in class (and it is, indeed, laughable). But believe me, I'm not kidding. There are litereally thousands of otherwise normal, everyday folks around the world who believe that our planet is flat.
This view of the world is ancient, and derives from staggering ignorance. Even Christopher Columbus knew that the world was a sphere (regardless of the children's tale that says otherwise). To find people who believed this, you'd have to go back much further than the 1400s. In fact, it was the Greek philosopher Pythagoras who first proposed a spherical Earth in the 6th century (the 500s)!
CLICK HERE to read a report about the Flat Earthers and their ridiculous beliefs. Then, consider what other beliefs people hold (homophobia, Creationism, sexism, anti-GMO, racial superiority, vaccine denial), as well as any that you yourself may hold that aren't supported by the facts.
I'm pleased to announce that my long-awaited podcast has finally aired. Each week, my co-host Amanda DeVaus (from the Australian Skeptics) will cover a different topic from science or skepticism, and feature interviews from famous scientists, authors, critical thinkers, etc.
NOW AVAILABLE in the iTunes store! Just search for "ShelShocked," then subscribe so that episodes will download automatically each week FREE.
CLICK HERE to join our Facebook fan page where each new episode will post, and related information can be found.
In addition, you can listen to (or download) episodes directly from my website HERE.
Dear Students:
I'm happy to report that Operation Bumblebee (San Jose) was a rousing success. Several of us to took part have written up articles about the experience, and some are already taking part in podcast interviews to spread the word. In addition to tricking self-described psychic Chip Coffey into connecting with our fake dead relatives, we also hoped to spark skeptical activism in our community. When you have a moment, click the link below to read (or listen to) my take on the evening. It was an emotionally exhausting experience, but very gratifying, nonetheless.
CLICK HERE to read a report of the evening's events (also available in audio format on that page). We have some interest from several major publications and a TV show, and I'll keep you posted about those as they develop.
Stay skeptical!