Topic XVII. Pathological Science
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LEARNING GOALS
- B. CONCEPT ACQUISITION
- Pathological Science Indicators:
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EXAMPLES
- Cautionary Quotes: Mistakes, Misconceptions, & Misunderstandings
LEARNING GOALS
- B. CONCEPT ACQUISITION
- Pathological Science Indicators:
- a. The effect is produced by a barely detectable cause, and the magnitude of the effect is substantially independent of the intensity of the cause.
- b. The effect is barely detectable, or has very low statistical significance. Claims of great accuracy.
- c. Involving fantastic theories contrary to experience.
- d. Criticisms are met with ad hoc excuses.
- e. Ratio of supporters to critics rises to near 50%, then drops back to near zero.
- f. Conclusion-motivated design & analysis.
- g. Pseudo-science is characterized by using scientific vocabulary without aligning with the corresponding concepts or engaging in real scientific practices (i.e., science being “skin deep,” not scientific below the surface).
- C. CONCEPT APPLICATION
- Identify cases of good science that gets the wrong answer, fraudulent science, pathological science, poorly-done science, and pseudo-science based on the above characteristics.
- Identify what is wrong in cases of fraudulent, pathological science, poorly-done, and pseudo-science.
CLASS ELEMENTS
- Homework
- Please read the article assigned to you based on your seating chart group (the seating chart for Week 9 is posted on the syllabus). These articles (from a variety of sciences) may be challenging to understand, but we encourage you to try to understand the main ideas from the articles and be prepared to discuss them in class on Wednesday. Please answer the following question for your homework: Based on Langmuir's criteria, do you think that the study conducted in the article you read would qualify as pathological science? In addition to a paragraph explanation summary of your thoughts, make sure to fill out and turn in the “Langmuir Scoresheet” as part of your assignment. [link]