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As part of the category “Problems in Scientific Thinking,” Shermer listed “Theory influences observations” (1997, p. 46). What this statement means is that theory in some sense directs, shapes, or may even limit the kinds of observations humans make. Again, it is clear that we might limit ourselves because we look for a particular kind of behavior rather than being open to any kind of activity in the environment. Most people have never heard a peacock’s scream and would never guess that the sound they hear when visiting a suburb outside Los Angeles comes from that bird. Why? Because most of us think peacocks are birds that reside in captivity. But peacocks have roamed wild in some places (like Rolling Hills on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California) for more than 100 years. We limit our choices to the most likely suspects. As Shermer stated, “[O]ur perceptions of reality are influenced by the theories framing our examination of it” (p. 46). As Sidman (1960) noted, “To the neutral observer it will be obvious that science is far from free of human bias, even in its evaluation of factual evidence” (p. 70); researchers need to maintain a healthy skepticism about research evidence and seek to replicate their work.

Table 1.1

Source: Adapted from Shermer, 1997, pp. 44–61.