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We Aren't the World: Why Americans Make Bad Study Subjects

Posted by samzenpus on from the we-are-the-outliers dept.

Lasrick writes "This is just fascinating: Joe Henrich and his colleagues are shaking the foundations of psychology and economics, and explain why social science studies of Westerners — and Americans in particular — don't really tell us about the human condition: 'Given the data, they concluded that social scientists could not possibly have picked a worse population from which to draw broad generalizations. Researchers had been doing the equivalent of studying penguins while believing that they were learning insights applicable to all birds.'"

10 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. Is Linux really that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    ...much more widely used in the US?
    1. First Post?
    2. Middle Post?
    3. Last Post?
    4. Only Post?
  2. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Researchers had been doing the equivalent of studying penguins while believing that they were learning insights applicable to all birds.'"

    Are they saying all the Americans are fat birds, unable to fly?

    1. Re:What? by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1, Funny

      >Are they saying all the Americans are fat birds, unable to fly?

      Not without an 'enhanced' at down. No.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    2. Re:What? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Are they saying all the Americans are fat birds, unable to fly?

      In Third World countries, only the rich can afford to be fat.

      In America, only the rich can afford to be thin.

      And in America, almost everyone can afford to fly. Which is unfortunate, if you get the middle seat, between two fat folks.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  3. Re:If you wanted to know about humans, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nuh-uh, I don't live in a community you stupid American. Dumb Americans always assuming stuff about other peoples.

  4. American Exceptionalism! by Freddybear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now scientifically proven! ;)

  5. This could be a hit. by mrjb · · Score: 3, Funny

    "We aren't the world! We aren't the children! We aren't the ones who make a better day..."

    --
    Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
  6. Re:If you wanted to know about humans, by asylumx · · Score: 1, Funny

    Nuh-uh, I don't live in a community you stupid American. Dumb Americans always assuming stuff about other peoples.

    Must be French...

  7. Re:If you wanted to know about humans, by Dogtanian · · Score: 5, Funny

    The internet does as well. In fact it has made the minority seem like a majority for a long time. It is amazingly easy to create an echo chamber here.

    I agree- good point!

    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  8. Re:If you wanted to know about humans, by dkf · · Score: 4, Funny

    I use the three shells where I live on the east coast of America.

    I figure that must be bash, ksh and what? csh? zsh? ash? Don't keep us in suspense here!

    --
    "Little does he know, but there is no 'I' in 'Idiot'!"