Internet Information

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Writing Assignment #4: Internet Information

Student ID 8675309

Psych1113 General Psychology

East Central University

June 15, 2021

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Assignment 4: Internet Information

Introduction

In the Tedx Talk, the myth of left brained thinkers who used the left-hemisphere of the

brain more were more logical compared to right-brain thinkers who used the right-hemisphere

and were more creative. The King textbook did offer support that it was a myth from the research

reported. The scholarly journal article did offer some support as well; however, some concerns

about the research study and lack of participants and lack of use students who were not right-

handed did emerge. However, the argument could be made it was a myth since the three sources

supported this. A counter argument was made that some research did indicate the left-hemisphere

was where more language processing occurred to include verbal logical reasoning.

Section 1: Discussing the Myth

Tedx Talks Myth

In the Tedx Talk (2014, December 4), the top 10 myths of psychology, the speaker, Ben

Ambridge, discussed several different psychology myths, including the myth of left brained and

right brained thinking. Ambridge defines left brained people as logical, so they would be good

with equations. He described right brained people as more creative, so they would be better at

music or art. He indicates this is a myth since nearly everything that people do, from logic to

creating music, involves nearly all parts of your brain working together. This includes even

merely having a normal conversation. He indicated the reason this myth is brought up often is

because of the fact that ambidextrous people tend to be more creative than one-handed people.

Since left-handed people are more often ambidextrous; therefore, the common myth developed

that the left side of your brain controls more rational skills while the right side of your brain

controls more creative skills.

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King Textbook

King (2016) describes the difference in functioning of the brain’s two hemispheres as

each hemisphere seems to be the source of specific processing. For example, the left hemisphere

is associated with language processing while the right hemisphere is associated with processing

spatial information; however, language processing in left-handed people tends toward more

bilateral processing as it occurs in both hemispheres.

King (2016) mentioned that there is a small amount of scientific evidence to back the

myth; however, it is more likely instead of being right-brained or left-brained that people are

whole-brained. Many of our daily experiences use both hemispheres of the brain.

Scholarly Journal Article

Review of the Scholarly Journal Article

Kershner and Ledger (1985) examined the differences of intelligence and style of

thinking creatively between males and females. The study examined the question of differences

in gifted students to see if the students were left hemisphere, right hemisphere, and integrated in

thinking styles. They hypothesis was that sex, thinking style, and IQ would impact creativity.

The literature review of the study addresses thinking styles versus intelligent quotient

(IQ) as some studies indicate a relationship with thinking styles rather than IQ. However, later in

the literature review, the studies that supported the relationship between IQ and creativity were

mentioned as IQ may explain differences rather than thinking in the different hemispheres. The

relationship to sex differences related to culture and the impact on intelligence and creativity

were examined as this may explain the differences in creativity found between males and

females.

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The study was a correlational study. The participants included 60 right-handed 9- to 11-

year-olds with 30 children randomly selected from the gifted program and 30 children selected

from the regular school program. Children were used as it allowed for the distinction between

student with higher IQs compared to students with average IQs due to the gifted education

selection process without the need to administer individual IQ tests to the participants. The

students were administered once the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, Verbal and

Figural, Form A and the Your Style of Learning and Thinking, Children's Form B (Kershner &

Ledger, 1985).

The results indicated that gender, IQ, and thinking style, which related to left or right

hemisphere thinking, each affected various elements of children's creativity. Girls, independent

of their IQ level and thinking style, scored higher than boys generally over the seven creativity

subscales. Children with above average intelligence, were more creative than the average

intelligence kids yet just in verbal creativity. A relationship was found between children's

preference for the integrated style of thinking, rather than right or left styles, and creativity. Sex

differences were not found between thinking styles; however, children with higher IQs were

more likely to use an integrated thinking style compared to average IQs who showed a

preference for the left-hemisphere style (Kershner & Ledger, 1985).

To conclude, no limitations were reported for the study, however, a concern was found as

the children participating in this study were all right-handed (Kershner & Ledger, 1985).

Critique of the Scholarly Journal Article

The sample size of the Kershner and Ledger (1985) study was only 60 students with 30

students from the gifted program and 30 students from the regular school program and were

further divided as 15 girls and 15 boys in each group, which suggests that more participants are

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needed as it leads to concerns that this does not accurately represent the population studied. The

measures appeared to address the research question related to creativity outcomes due to sex

differences, thinking styles, and IQ; however, nothing was mentioned as to the time of year or

time of day when they were administered, which could change the outcomes on these measures.

Another concern identified was that the participants were all right-handed, which could have

been a confounding variable.

The study had several strong points as it did utilize good measures and used random

selection of the participants. Also, the participants did not have to undergo an IQ test since they

used the gifted programs evaluation as the IQ basis. However, addressing the lack of

participants, specifically the use of only right-handed student, might improve the study. Also,

using the measures at times of the day when the children were more alert and during times of the

week when they were more engaged might improve the study.

As the results of the study indicated the likelihood that those who were more creative did

utilize an integrated thinking style or both hemispheres, it does support that use of one specific

hemisphere or left brain versus right brain for creativity is a myth.

Section 2: Myth or No Myth

Myth or No Myth

When comparing the information reported by Tedx Talk (2014, December 4),

King (2016), and Kershner & Ledger (1985), not much difference in the information was found.

It all supports that this is a myth.

Your Argument

My personal position is that this is a myth. Whether you think more with your right-brain

or left-brain does not seem to be as important as using all of your brain. Humans use both

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hemispheres of their brain, and the use one side more does not affect your intelligence or

creativity. I would make this argument because the Tedx Talk, textbook, and scholarly journal

article support this argument.

Counter Argument

A counter argument might be that different hemispheres of the brain may process

different things, such as the left hemisphere has been found to process language compared to the

right hemisphere that process spatial information. People who do use verbal reasoning then

might use more of the left-hemisphere and be considered left-brain logic thinkers. This argument

would be used because there is some research that supports this.

Section 3: Meme Argument

Conclusion

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The Tedx Talk identified the myth that left-brain thinkers were more logical while right-

brain thinkers were more creative. The King textbook indicated that the research did offer as

much support for this as it did that everyone uses both sides of their brain. The scholarly journal

article indicated that thinking styles, which corresponded to hemispheres of the brain, did affect

creativity; however, it supported that there was a relationship with creativity and integrated

thinking of both hemispheres. Some concerns were raised about research in the article as it did

not include enough participants or varied participants to represent the population; however, some

modifications of this would help. Each of the different sources did support that the myth of left-

brain versus right-brain thinkers was a myth. An argument could be made from the support found

in this myth; however, a counter argument could be made that some studies do support that the

left-hemisphere does seem to process language, which could include verbalized logical

reasoning.

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References:

Kershner, J. R., & Ledger, G. (1985). Effect of sex, intelligence, and style of thinking on

creativity: A comparison of gifted and average IQ children. Journal of Personality and

Social Psychology, 48(4), 1033–1040. https://doi.org /10.1037/0022-3514.48.4.1033

King, L. A. (2016). Experience Psychology (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies.

Tedx Talks. (2014, December 4). The top 10 myths of psychology [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHhn7z6BA0w