Science vs. Science vs. PseudosciencePseudoscienceUnit 1: Nature of Unit 1: Nature of ScienceScience

PseudosciencePseudoscience

Benchmarks:Benchmarks:•Use multiple sources of information Use multiple sources of information to evaluate strengths and to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of claims arguments, or weaknesses of claims arguments, or data.data.•Evaluate the strengths and Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, weaknesses of claims, arguments, and data.and data.•Identify the need for evidence in Identify the need for evidence in making scientific decisions.making scientific decisions.•Evaluate scientific concepts Evaluate scientific concepts through various illustrations through various illustrations performances, models, and performances, models, and activities.activities.

What is Pseudoscience?What is Pseudoscience?

The word “pseudo” means false. The word “pseudo” means false. Pseudoscience directly translated Pseudoscience directly translated means “false science”means “false science”

Basically it is a study or claim Basically it is a study or claim that is not backed with any hard that is not backed with any hard data or facts.data or facts.

Other names for pseudoscience Other names for pseudoscience include:include:

Fringe ScienceFringe Science Junk ScienceJunk ScienceHoax ScienceHoax ScienceBad ScienceBad Science

Examples of Examples of PseudosciencePseudoscience• AstrologyAstrology• Crop circlesCrop circles• 2012 Apocalypse2012 Apocalypse• PhrenologyPhrenology• ESPESP• Alien encountersAlien encounters• HypnosisHypnosis

And many, many more!And many, many more!

Science vs. PseudoscienceScience vs. Pseudoscience

ScienceScience PseudosciencePseudoscience

Its goal is to achieve a Its goal is to achieve a more complete more complete understanding of the understanding of the physical world.physical world.

Its goal is more likely to be Its goal is more likely to be driven by personal or private driven by personal or private gains (profit or fame). gains (profit or fame).

There is research to back There is research to back up their claims. Constantly up their claims. Constantly looking to expand looking to expand knowledge of the subject.knowledge of the subject.

Little evidence to support Little evidence to support their ideas and the research their ideas and the research that is carried out tries only that is carried out tries only to prove they are right.to prove they are right.

Explanations must be Explanations must be stated in clear, stated in clear, unambiguous terms.unambiguous terms.

Pseudoscientific explanations Pseudoscientific explanations tend to be vague and tend to be vague and ambiguous.ambiguous.

Science or Pseudoscience?Science or Pseudoscience?

The Ivory soap The Ivory soap ad states . . . ad states . . .

““The soap so The soap so pure pure it floats!” it floats!”

Ivory soap floats Ivory soap floats because of trapped because of trapped air bubbles in the air bubbles in the soap, soap, NOTNOT because it because it is 99.4% pure soap.is 99.4% pure soap.

However, the idea of soap However, the idea of soap floating because it is floating because it is “pure” made people buy “pure” made people buy more Ivory soap.more Ivory soap.