Laboratory experiment as a part of the religious studies scholar's toolkit
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14210%2F15%3A00084441" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14210/15:00084441 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
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DOI - Digital Object Identifier
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Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Laboratory experiment as a part of the religious studies scholar's toolkit
Original language description
After introducing the strengths and weaknesses of the social-scientific laboratory experiment, I will focus on its ability to decide between competing hypotheses. I will argue that Religious Studies can use it for the same purpose. As a showcase, I willuse the hotly debated issue of religious prosociality, an issue in evolutionary research on religion. Here, rival hypotheses compete for supporting empirical evidence (increased cooperation, generosity, reciprocity, trust and altruism; reduced cheating,etc.). One hypothesis considers religious prosociality to be an expression of parochial in-group favouritism, suggesting that it is a mere by-product of our coalitional psychology. The other sees religious prosociality as extending even to out-groups, arguing that it might be an adaptation. I will use this case as an example of how highly influential wide-ranging theories boil down to empirical testing and how experimental research can in the end play the essential role of an arbiter.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
O - Miscellaneous
CEP classification
AA - Philosophy and religion
OECD FORD branch
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Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/EE2.3.20.0048" target="_blank" >EE2.3.20.0048: Laboratory for Experimental Research of Religion</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2015
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů