Claims about technology in education

• Studies illustrating contrasting findings:

  • Shaw & Tan (2015) found that a smartphone app targeted at surgery residents can increase student engagement and raise test scores. [Shaw \, & \, Tan, \, 2015]
  • Massimini & Peterson (2009) found that technology use in undergraduate populations had negative impacts on sleep, communication, and time management skills. [Massimini \, & \, Peterson, \, 2009]

• How to evaluate a claim from multiple perspectives:

  • What is the expertise of the person making the claim?
  • What might they gain if the claim is valid?
  • Does the claim seem justified given the evidence?
  • What do other researchers think of the claim?

• Facts vs. opinions:

  • Facts are observable realities.
  • Opinions are personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate.

• Scientific standards for facts:

  • In the scientific community, facts can be established only using evidence collected through empirical research.

• Historical note on key figures in psychology:

  • Margaret Floy Washburn ( $1871-1939$ ) was the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Her research focused on animal behavior and cognition.
  • Mary Whiton Calkins ( $1863-1930$ ) was a preeminent first-generation American psychologist who opposed the behaviorist movement, conducted significant research into memory, and established one of the earliest experimental psychology labs in the United States.
  • Mary Francis Sumner ( $1895-1954$ ) was the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology in 1920. Her dissertation focused on issues related to psychoanalysis. Sumner also had research interests in racial bias and educational justice. Sumner was one of the founders of Howard University’s department of psychology, and because of his accomplishments, he is sometimes referred to as the “Father of Black Psychology.”
  • Inez Beverly Prosser ( $1895-1934$ ) became the first African American woman to receive a PhD in psychology. Prosser’s research highlighted issues related to education in segregated versus integrated schools.
  • Horatio Piñero ( $1869-1919$ ) founded some of the first experimental psychology laboratories in South America at two institutions in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Godoy & Brussino, 2010).
  • In India, Gunamudian David Boaz ( $1908-1965$ ) and Narendra Nath Sen Gupta ( $1889-1944$ ) established the first independent departments of psychology at the University of Madras and the University of Calcutta, respectively. These developments provided an opportunity for Indian researchers to make important contributions to the field (Gunamudian David Boaz, n.d.; Narendra Nath Sen Gupta, n.d.).

• Additional context:

  • The emergence of independent psychology departments in India and early labs in South America highlight diverse, global origins of psychological science and the importance of institutional support for scholarly contributions.

Notable psychologists and pioneers (biographical highlights)

• Margaret Floy Washburn — $1871-1939$; first woman to earn a PhD in psychology; research focus: animal behavior and cognition.
• Mary Whiton Calkins — $1863-1930$; prominent early American psychologist; opposed behaviorism; memory research; established one of the earliest experimental psychology labs in the U.S.
• Mary Francis Sumner — $1895-1954$; first African American to receive a PhD in psychology (in 1920); dissertation on psychoanalysis; research on racial bias and educational justice; founder of Howard University’s psychology department; sometimes called the “Father of Black Psychology.”
• Inez Beverly Prosser — $1895-1934$; first African American woman to earn a PhD in psychology; studied education in segregated vs. integrated schools.
• Horatio Piñero — $1869-1919$; founded some of the first experimental psychology laboratories in South America at two institutions in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Godoy & Brussino, 2010).
• Gunamudian David Boaz — $1908-1965$; Narendra Nath Sen Gupta — $1889-1944$; established the first independent departments of psychology at the University of Madras and the University of Calcutta, respectively; these developments provided opportunities for Indian researchers to contribute to the field (Boaz, n.d.; Sen Gupta, n.d.).