Comments for The Thinking Teacher

Comment on The Power of Placebo (Follow-Up) by Bernie Garrett

Bernie Garrett — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 00:04:30 +0000

Good examples. At the end of the day because all medical conditions have some amount of neuro-endocrine control the placebo effect comes in to play virtually everywhere. What does not tend to change with placebo is effect size however, which tends to be about the same, apart from in those cases who were a) misdiagnosed, or b) spontaneously resolving.

The placebo effect is a fascinating subject, and you can only really account for it with repeat studies, and large samples. Of course, you are absolutely right, if someone gets better after receiving a placebo, they will tell everyone how well it worked for them. This is why a lot of alternative medicine remains popular.

Additionally, I recently heard an assistant in the pet store advising a customer that the homeopathic pet remedies worked wonders for her dog. In reality, you may as well save your money and give your pet water (which is actually what you are doing anyway).

So interestingly it seems the placebo effect can be vicariously transferred. I.e. if you expect someone else (or even an animal) to get better after a placebo some will. So the placebo effect may also have an influence there ( due to misdiagnosis, regression to the mean, and spontaneous resolution). Some experiments aimed at testing that would be very interesting!

Cheers
Bernie

Comment on The Power of Placebo by Bernie Garrett

Bernie Garrett — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 23:47:11 +0000

Interesting! Although logically you are assuming the neurologically mediated response in experiment A would give the improved results with each additional placebo intervention in the in the back pain study, but be the same for all the placebo interventions in the infection in experiment B. What we tend to find in real world clinical trials is that in experiment A the number of placebos does not necessarily increase the improving effect, and even in experiment B, with less neurologically mediated problems placebo may still raise the rate of improvement.

Cheers
Bernie

Comment on Metro Vancouver Transit Referendum (Group 2) by Sue Seward

Sue Seward — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 16:00:10 +0000

Dear Peter,
I agree, there are multiple ways that transit could be funded. Voting “yes” did not exclude exploiting other funding options, such as relying on developers. I really like your suggestion.

Your other comment highlights a serious issue that is, really, a red herring to the controversy about the improvement of transit: the integrity of the management of Translink.

Our frustration with the management does not erase the need for addressing the quality and availability of public transit.

Do not throw out the baby with the bath water – upgrade the bathwater! There is no reason why we cannot expect people working with Translink be subject to proper corporate evaluation, recommendations for upgrading of performance, the adoption of those recommendations, and, if not adopted, employment is terminated. Much of our concern for the mismanagement of finances relates to unwritten expectations of integrity and ethical behaviours. Why can’t we demand that these be addressed, regardless of the vote outcome? Please don’t tell me that voting “no” means that the management of transit stays the same.

Voting “no” because of current management practices is self-punishment for the poor behaviour of others. I have seen restriction happen, repeatedly, in larger organizations because of the fear of addressing individual or system-wide dysfunction.

Restricting the growth of transit because of the poor behaviour of others is an irrational decision based on feeling helpless in the face of dysfunction. There are ways of dealing with mismanaged organizations but it requires courage and the desire to not be driven by fear.

Comment on It’s A Mean, Mean, Mean World. Really? by Doug Smith

Doug Smith — Sat, 23 May 2015 01:14:37 +0000

I haven’t read much on terrorism, but perhaps it uses the guise of political activism for leaders to exercise personal control, power and maybe even wealth. In this sense, terrorism absolutely works.

Comment on The Secret To Success by mr.m

mr.m — Sun, 10 May 2015 18:56:32 +0000

Thanks Jason. Great to hear from you and nice recovery there.

Comment on The Secret To Success by mr.m

mr.m — Sun, 10 May 2015 18:54:48 +0000

What a nice comment. Thanks Catherine.

Comment on The Secret To Success by mr.m

mr.m — Sun, 10 May 2015 18:53:39 +0000

Thanks Ann.

Comment on The Secret To Success by Jason Fernando

Jason Fernando — Sat, 09 May 2015 18:41:33 +0000

As is proofreading oneself before hitting ‘post’ 😉

Comment on The Secret To Success by Jason Fernando

Jason Fernando — Sat, 09 May 2015 18:40:25 +0000

Excellent work. I had the pleasure of taking your course while a student at Kistilano Secondary, and it was one of the highlights of my highschool years. I sincerely hope the model you are developing will be widely adopted in other schools; critical thinking is a profoundly important and under-emphasizeed skillset.

Comment on The Secret To Success by Catherine Eberle

Catherine Eberle — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:28:14 +0000

This is education at its best. Congratulations Mark. Students at Kitsilano are very fortunate to have such an opportunity. Your dedication and hard work with the implementation and development of this course have been remarkable. You deserve to be proud of what you have accomplished. Enjoy !