Question1
As described in the RAM and hard drive space example of having Americans give rule-based justifications(like saying RAM is the factor) and having Asians give compromise-based justification (like saying both RAM and hard drive space is important) (Pg184), Nisbett says that Americans prefer "one of the extreme objects whose choice could be justified with reference to simple rule", and Asians "greater preference for the compromise object."
Which type are you? Explain with your experience.
Question2
Nisbett talks about the Barnum effect, and introduces a test done by Incheol Choi to see if East Asians are "more susceptible to the Barnum effect". In this test, Choi gives "some participants one of the opposed pair of propositions and some participants the other."
Here is a example of one from Pg.186.
・The more one knows, the more one believes
The more one knows, the less one believes.
Which one do you agree with? And which type were you according to Pg.186?
Question3
On page 189, Nisbett says that Asians believe "everyone, under the right circumstances and with enough hard work" can acquire skills high-level, while Americans believe that skills are something "you do or don't have"
Which is the closest to your thought? Does your thought have any effect on the way you deal with academics?
Group 7 leaders
Yuriko Wada
Yuta Shibasaki
I will answer question#3.
ReplyDeleteI think my thought is closer to Americans' one.
I was poor at math and science before entering ICU and actually suffered from juken benkyo for the Center Test.. I guess I have poor mathmatical skill and this cannot be helped because it is an "inherent" thing.
The skill of math or science is something you are "gifted" to some extent.
Nozomi Otaki
thank you for your comment, Non-chan!
ReplyDeleteI feel sympathy with you because I also had trouble with studying math and science before entering ICU.
however, you studied them hard and got good points, did'n you?
I think you have potential capacity:)
yuriko
For Question 3
ReplyDeleteI think the American way of thinking is closer to my thought than Asian way. First of all, I disagree to how Nisbett states the word “everyone” in the Asian belief. I do think that under the right circumstances and with enough hard work can acquire high-level skills, but I do not believe that is for everyone. There are things that you cannot acquire even if you work hard and learn at the right circumstances. For example, I play volleyball from my childhood and there are a lot of people who plays volleyball from childhood. However, there are only a certain amount of people that could become proficient volleyball player. This is not because one did not work hard enough or play under the right circumstnaces. This is because they did not have enough height. Moreover, height affects one's skill of play. In addition, like me, sometimes you just have poor skills of volleyball. Therefore, I believe some skills are either you have it or you do not have it. Therefore, I think my thought is closer to American way of thinking.
From Moeka:
ReplyDeleteI will answer to question 3☆
I disagree with non-chan...
I have the Asian way of thinking.
when I was in the 2nd year of high school, I really really hated math.
I always had a bad grade.
However, I asked my teacher for an advice, and he told me never to give up, and keep on working.
He said that I will be able to do math, if I work harder, even though it may take time.
I trusted him, and did math every day after school with my teacher.
After all, I was able to get a 90 on my math test!
At first, I had the american way of thinking. But I realized that I was just using that idea as an excuse.
I will keep on believing that "hard work" will lead me to an achievement(^O^)
-Moeka
Hi!
ReplyDeletesorry for commenting last minute...
I think I have taught in the former way, that is, with hard work, we can achieve any goal and like moe, I believe in that way. Through many experiences, I sometimes think that there are some occasions when we have to be more realistic and think in the latter way.(like the example of volleyball yurika wrote) But I try not to think in the latter way for it seems to limit my possibility. It’s hard to tell what I have by myself.
In dealing with academics, I believe that with hard work, everyone can succeed. Especially in writing an essay, the more one think about it and the more one read books about the topic, the more elaborate the essay becomes. Some might argue that there often are gaps between the two who have worked hard everyday. In this case, I think the problem is whether one does the hard work efficiently or not. For example, I have seen some of my friends re-writing their notes from one note to the other. While some are working hard memorizing the stuff they are re-writing.
nanako
I am going to answer Question 3
ReplyDeleteI think both ideas of skills are right. Hard work leads you to become skilled, however, once in a while, some people are better than the other just by nature. For example, an artist is not what you can become just by hard working. If I want to become an artist, I don’t think I can be the one no matter how much I work hard. Effort is not enough to get certain kinds of skills such as artists, because that depends on whether you have the talent with you or not.
But most of the work in society is not about the talent given by nature. What I don’t like is to make an excuse by deciding whether you have or don’t have a talent. Saying “I am not good at it because I don’t have any skill.” is not acceptable. Even a great artist works harder than anybody else. An artist becomes skilled because he or she continues working while others are playing, eating, or sleeping.
I will comment on Question 2.
ReplyDeleteI understand both ways of thinking and have these two views inside of me.
For “the more one knows, the more one believes” case, I totally agree.
Like Meiland said, if we have a “justified true belief”and know the justification behind the belief, then even our belief is challenged, we can defend our belief not only to other people but to ourselves. As a result, we also less likely to change beliefs.
Meiland also said, “Investigation of reasons and arguments for a belief assists in understanding that belief.”
For these reasons, I believe “the more one knows, the more one believes.”
At the same time, I also agree the idea of “the more one knows, the less one believes.”
This is because I think that it is essential to know about to be able to make judgment (whether you believe or not).
In other words, we cannot make a judgment without knowing enough about it: we need to “suspend our judgment” until we know enough about it.
For this reason, it is natural for us to ended up with losing a belief ( in the case of “the more one knows, the less one believes”).
For example, let's assume that you are interested in becoming a Christian but you do not know much about Christianity. You may decide to become a Christian after you learn about the God and developing your faith through reading the Bible (this is the case “the more one knows about the God, the more one believes in the God”).
However, you may decide not to become a Christian because you end up with a losing your faith towards the God after learning about the Bible and realizing it is filled with contradictions.
In this way, I think that ideas of “the more one know, the more one believes, or the less one believes” are both true and essential for me.
Thanks for your comment, Kanako.
ReplyDeleteSo you agree with both, which means that you are the Asian type according to the book.
It's funny about this, since knowledge works differently on different occasions. It is used not only to backup, but to kick out some ideas … this makes me confused.
Anyways, I am the Asian type to, I agree with your ideas.
Yuta
From Ms Shiraishi:
ReplyDeleteSorry for being late!
For question 2
I think the person caused this “akihabara tourima” incident. In high school, we have talked about this incident in our class. We read the internet page which the suspect used to write just before the incident. There, the suspect wrote about him being betrayed by his friends and family. When I read that passage, I didn’t think it was people around him, but it was himself who made him to cause this incident. He might have been betrayed by his family and friends, but that doesn’t it was their fault. The suspect could have cooled his temper if he had tried. Therefore in my opinion, it is not the context, but person who causes incidents.
I would like to answer question 3.
ReplyDeleteI think my thought is middle of Asians’ and Americans’ thinking.
I think that under the right circumstances and with enough hard work, people can get certain high-level skill. But I also think that there is some high-level skill that some people cannot reach. I believe that some people are really gifted and can do something that normal people cannot do even how hard they worked. As Sir Ken Robinson, the man who had the speech about education in the movie we watched in the class, I think everyone have talents but in different fields or ways. Thus there must be something that some people can do and I cannot, but also, there must be something I can do most and some might not do it easily.
This way of thinking might effect on the way I deal with my academics but not yet, because I had not figure out what my talent might be yet. I hope what academic I like would much with my talent, but not sure.
I agree with both Asians’ and Americans’ thought and I think my thought would effect on my choosing my academics but not sure yet because my talent is still unknown.
Question #3
ReplyDeleteNisbett says that Asians believe anyone can acquire math (and other logical) skills with right circumstances and hard work and I agree with this belief. When I was in high school, I had trouble solving math problems and I started to hate math for that reason. However, I practiced a lot by solving many equations in the text. By practicing, I got used to solving math problems and somehow I was able to solve problems quickly. Even though we do not know how to do things at first, but by learning from teachers and by practicing, we can obtain new skills.
thank you for your comment, Yumi!
ReplyDeleteYou think that not sll the people cannot reach the high level of skills,and all people have a certain kind of talent. It is good points of view, and I agree with your point.
I hope everyone has their unique talent and so do I!
yuriko
Thank you for your comment, Nanako!
ReplyDeleteIm sorry for lating to replying you.
I personally like your thought that you do not want to limit your possibilities. Giving up something reduces someone's chances. So it is important that people have to challenge everything they face, then they decide that they have apptitude for something.
yuriko
This post is for Ryohta.
ReplyDeleteI will answer question 3.
I think there are things and qualities one can manage to do by putting efforts. On the other hand, there are things and qualities one cannot do because he does not have enough skills to do it. Sports are a perfect example. As Yurika stated, not everyone cannot become a proficient player just by effort because effort is not the only thing which makes a player’s ability. Even if you practice hard, you might lose to someone who is taller than you or heavier than you.
When I was in United States I was in a baseball team and there was a coach whom I will never forget. He was a kind of a coach who only believed in talents; he did not think efforts and attitudes were important in sports. At first I did not like his way of coaching because I thought it would only make players slack off, but as the time passed I was able to realize that this is the way Americans do. Japanese like people like who work hard, while Americans think the results are more important than anything else. I learned that I had a bias that players who do not practice hard were a bad player. Now I think players do not have to go to practice if they can do what they are told to do.
Therefore I think American way of thinking suits me better.
2011年6月13日0:03 Ryohta Kurosu
Thank you for your comment, Saki!
ReplyDeleteYou don't like making excutes for someone's disablities which are caused by lacking efforts.
When I read your comment, I came up with the proverb that "sukikoso monono jozunare":the more you like, the better you can do.
I think artists like what they do, so they can keep doing and practicing.
Let me respond to the #3s that have been already answered.
ReplyDeleteI've got to do some work here.
Thanks for your comment, Yurika.
I agree with you. Totally. I also used to play sports too, several of them.
Somewhere, there's a border line where you have to have a "gifted" element. Not everyone can climb it all up.
But, I do think there is a level, that you can get up to with simple "hard work". In my case, in U.S. I think I did fairly well besides my height and lack of strength compared to Americans.
So I think that this differs with where you put "high-level" at, and the level of the skill required to make you feel so.
Now I'm starting to wonder if I think the Asian way or not…
Thanks for your comment, Moe.
ReplyDeleteWow, I respect you for keep trying at it!
I was the type that said "Well, there's no way I'll be able to do this" and abandoned math.
I didn't think I would be able to get it at a level I can use it in Jyuken so I decided to not risk it using time.
Nicely done.
Thanks for your comment, Yukie.
ReplyDeleteMath seems like the hard stuff for everyone… But you came through.
Well, I think I'm starting to get convinced by you guys. Try hard, keep working at it, then you'll get the light. Be positive.
Sounds ideal.
Thanks for the comment, Ryohta.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, I agree with the physical part.
But I don't know about your baseball coach. I was told by my skipper that he was using me not because I was a good athlete, but because I was a good "ballplayer" who pumps up people and gets fierce when it comes to winning the game. I still remember this since I was so happy that he recognized my effort and attitude towards the game.
Sure, talent gives you personal success, but it does not earn you victory. I think that what gives you a win is attitude and some effort, maybe daily or sometimes laying your self down to catch a ball in critical situations.
Also, in my opinion, Americans do like effort and attitude. Probably not the way Japanese do, but people do demand personal results and effort/attitude at the same time, at the same level. I think that's what makes the difference between a star and a super star, otherwise Willie Mays and Joe Montana won't be that popular; it's the effort of making a play to win that they made that's burned their names into people's memories; most people don't memorize statics.
I talk too much when it has something to do with baseball.
But I really think effort and attitude is the factor in the game. It's definitely not enough, still, you have to have this before you can even start worrying about ability.
From Ms Koshimizu:
ReplyDeleteFor question #3,
I think that the Asians’ belief about skills is closer to mine because
I have the experience of doing bad a math and then getting better at
it and I think that it is because of training. From elementary school,
I was not good at math and I actually hated it because of that. Since
I did not like math, I did not practice at all, which made it more
difficult to be good at it. After I entered junior high school, I
still wasn’t good at math and the contents of it became more and more
complicating so I was no where close to doing better again. However,
when I entered high school, I met a math teacher that taught in the
way that fit me. I was able to understand much better so I felt like
working on it and as a consequence, I started to get good grades on
tests. I still did not like math but became better at it trough
training so I think that I am closer to the Asians’ beliefs about
skills.
After I learned a it is possible to become better on subjects that I
did not do well, I tried to work harder on every one of them. Now that
I am in ICU, I am training myself to be better at using English.
And I apologize for not working hard enough to post this on time!!! I
am sooooooo sorry!!
Thank you!!! See you later!
I apologize...I'm even later:'(
ReplyDeleteI'll answer #3 (though it seems like almost everyone has chosen this one..).
I always think of an acquirment of skill in terms of a person's potential.
For example, I'm planning to start learning French at a French language school this summer.
I'm a complete beginner, and I can't help but to wonder how far I'll get in acquiring this language. If I study hard enough, devoting myself to the language for years and years from now, I'd (hopefully) be able to reach a pretty good level of skill in the language. However, if I happen to have some sense, or "potential" in the language, it could in fact boost my speed of acquiring the language. Having potential could also mean that the skills acquired could be put to a practical use in a shorter time than not. But the same could be said the other way around---if I had no potential, I'd be able to reach a certain point in acuqiring the skill but never so high as a person with potential...because it's just impossible to catch up with someone like that in such a short amount of time we have in our life.
So, I'd say I have a more Western view regarding skills. up to a certain point, hard work matters. beyond that, I think it's a matter of if "you have it or you don't".
Again, sorry for the late comment.
Naoko
I am very sorry that I comment too late:(
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna answer question 3
I think my thought is closer to asian way. I also guess at those subjects which using calculatin and memorization such as math and history, wecan schieved by hard work , but those subjects which required sensitivity such as Japanese and arts, we can achieve easily by hard work. There must be a talent to feel that.
I dont mean it is totally impossible. Cuz we believe so,then we dont have to study them anymore.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor Question 3.
ReplyDeleteI agree to the Asian way because I think whether you can be good at something is depended on both potential ability and how much time you spend on it. I think that each person has his/her potential ability, but it can never be realized without spending a lot of time for practice. Personally, I am generally good at everything to some extent, but I am also aware that it is only superficial and to truly become good at something, I must really work hard on one particular subject, for a long period of time. I`m looking for something that I can truly be passionate about and put a lot of effort on to become an expert on the field.
#3
ReplyDeleteI do not agree to the idea of saying either Asians or Westerners believe in one way or the other, but I believe in the Asian way of thinking.
I always set my goal higher than my current level.
When I think back to the days I when I first started studying English (seven years ago), I realize that I have got so much better, to the level that I thought I would not be able to reach.
This makes me think that someday, I can reach even higher level that I am not able to imagine now. Being never satisfied with the current level I am at, makes me reach to the point without realizing.