Questions: Page(s) 10-13 1.1 Why Is Psychology Important in Your Life? A professional educator reads a magazine article published in a recent issue about how listening to Mozart increases intelligence. Based on this article, he wants to implement a very costly program designed to have high school students listen to Mozart to raise their SAT scores. Which of the following are good critical thinking questions the educator should ask about the article before implementing such a program? Correct Answer(s) What is the evidence that listening to Mozart's music will increase intelligence? Does the claim that listening to Mozart increases intelligence align with what I believe? Am I being asked to believe that listening to Mozart will always increase intelligence? Could there be other reasonable explanations for the study's conclusion that listening to Mozart increases intelligence? Incorrect Answer(s)

To critically evaluate the article about listening to Mozart and its purported effect on intelligence, the educator should consider the following questions:

1. What is the evidence that listening to Mozart's music will increase intelligence?

   • This question is crucial as it seeks to understand the empirical basis of the claim. The educator should look for details about the study's methodology, sample size, and whether the results have been replicated in other studies. It's important to assess the quality and reliability of the evidence presented.

2. Could there be other reasonable explanations for the study's conclusion that listening to Mozart increases intelligence?

   • This question encourages the educator to consider alternative explanations or confounding variables that might have influenced the study's results. For example, factors such as the participants' prior exposure to music, their general interest in music, or even the placebo effect could play a role.

3. Am I being asked to believe that listening to Mozart will always increase intelligence?

   • This question addresses the generalizability of the claim. The educator should consider whether the article suggests that the effect is universal and consistent across different populations and contexts, or if it is limited to specific conditions.

By asking these questions, the educator can critically assess the validity and applicability of the article's claims before deciding to implement an expensive program based on its findings.