Researching the sceptics

[deBergerac]

Does anyone know about any research being done or that has been done regarding the sceptical movement?

Has anyone involved in e.g. Science and Technology studies tried to see if the sceptical movement is indeed promoting rational and scientific thinking among the general public?
Or has any studies been done on the people that are attracted to different sceptical organizations; are we all science nerds, or just nerds?

Any kind of information regarding studies directed toward the sceptical community would be appreciated.

[Beady]

Well, all I can tell you is that the only people I know of in the Real World (tm) who have heard about it are the ones I've told.

[CFLarsen]

.....what's wrong with being a nerd? :p

[Gravy]

Is it accurate to call it a movement?

[deBergerac]

.....what's wrong with being a nerd? :p

I never said it was anything wrong with it.;)

Is it accurate to call it a movement?

I do not know. There are a number of different organisations and people go to meetings, is that a movement or not? I never said it was a big movement.

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Well, on one hand you have groups like JREF, CSICOP, Skeptic, etc that are promoting skepticism and critical thinking, but I think that any peer-review science publication could be said to be promoting those same values, just as a secondary effect of their articles, not the primary intent. Oooh, that was a good run-on sentence wasn't it? *sigh* Darn stream of consciousness writing.

[milesalpha]

Well I am still baffled by the secret of the Caramilk bar so I am no science nerd. I am a history nerd if that helps. My conversion (and it was a conversion, I was a woo fan) came in the weeks after a certain episode of the Tonight show got me thinking and questioning about 30 odd years ago. I have never looked back.

[tkingdoll]

Yes indeed: PM sent DeBergerac.

[Curnir]

I'm a geek, not a nerd

[gfunkusarelius]

we are all dream killers
hah

[edited to change something silly on my part]

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Eh?

m-w.com

skeptical
One entry found for skeptical.
Main Entry: skep·ti·cal
Pronunciation: -ti-k&l
Function: adjective
: relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism <a skeptical listener>
- skep·ti·cal·ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb

sceptic, sceptical, scepticism
One entry found for sceptic, sceptical, scepticism.
Main Entry: scep·tic, scep·ti·cal, scep·ti·cism
variant of SKEPTIC, SKEPTICAL, SKEPTICISM


I assumed it was just a "which side of the pond you're on" issue. Am I in error?

[rwguinn]

I never said it was anything wrong with it.;)



I do not know. There are a number of different organisations and people go to meetings, is that a movement or not? I never said it was a big movement.

Well-
I go to Bluegrass meetings, and Bridge club meetings, and Historical reinactment meetings, and Band Booster and Alumni meetings. Are those movements?:crowded:
Don't think so. Just because people with common interests get together regularly doesn't mean they are trying to impose beliefs on anyone else (except possibly in the case of the weak 2-No Trump opener....:D

[Moochie]

Movement? You wanna belong, don'tcha... :p

M.

[dharlow]

Does anyone know about any research being done or that has been done regarding the sceptical movement?

Has anyone involved in e.g. Science and Technology studies tried to see if the sceptical movement is indeed promoting rational and scientific thinking among the general public?
Or has any studies been done on the people that are attracted to different sceptical organizations; are we all science nerds, or just nerds?

Any kind of information regarding studies directed toward the sceptical community would be appreciated.

This is a good question. As far as I am aware, no there hasn't...at least nothing fitting what I think you're looking for. I do know there is a biography being done on Randi which would likely touch on some of the issues. Marcello Truzzi has written on CSICOP and its origins. As a founding member his views are worth considering but it must be understood that he resigned from the organization and that may color his analysis. Skeptical Inquirer and Skeptic have published articles by teachers/professors who have taught critical thinking courses and some of the surveys they've taken of the students. There have also been some studies of mainstream scientists and their views of "deviant science" but nothing that I am aware of regarding actual skeptical organizations.
The closest thing I can think of regarding an analysis of a skeptical organization is George Hansen's paper on CSICOP:

http://www.tricksterbook.com/ArticlesOnline/CSICOPoverview.htm

This is a critical view of the organization from a former parapsychologist. George's book, The Trickster and the Paranormal also contains some additional points of analysis.

[Ersby]

Or has any studies been done on the people that are attracted to different sceptical organizations; are we all science nerds, or just nerds?

Not sure if this will help but Susan Blackmore surveyed parapsychologists and sceptics a couple of decades ago. "What do we really think?: A survey of Parapsychologists and Sceptics." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 55

www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Articles/PDFs/JSPR%201989.pdf