Evaluation Theorist Michael Scriven, of Western Michigan University, presents his perspective on the “causation-debate.” According to Scriven, formal analysis (e.g., experimentation and statistical analysis) is neither necessary nor sufficient...
Professor Jennifer Greene of the Education Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign addresses the gap between collecting credible evidence in evaluation research, and applying it in a public policy domain. Greene’s main...
Stewart Donaldson, dean of the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University opens this symposium with a presentation about the “second boom” of applied psychology and evaluation. In this new phase of the...
Social psychology; Conformity; Bandura, Albert, 1925-; Milgram, Stanley; Abu Ghraib Prison; Influence (Psychology); Persuasion (Psychology)
Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo offers an overview of the psychology of evil and his experience studying the phenomenon. Zimbardo defines evil as the exercise of power to do harm, and describes how good people can become evil. Zimbardo suggests...
Social Psychology; Uncertainty; Threat; Patriotism; Leadership; Authoritarianism; Security; Terrorism; Immigration
Dr. Merolla discusses how different types of threats can make individuals come to feel anxious, insecure, and uncertain about the world around them. There are many studies predicting that citizens may exert control over such uncontrollable...
Social Psychology; Adolescent behavior., Uncertainty; Individual differences; Popularity; Sensation seeking
Dr. Siegel discusses adolescent substance use, adolescents’ willingness to accept physical harm to achieve popularity, and the role of socio-personal sensitivity and expectations in decision-making and risky behavior. According to Dr. Siegel not...
