Pseudoscience & the Nature of Science

Pseudoscience

A system of ideas or misconceptions erroneously regarded as science.

• Ex: Snake oil was sold in the late 1800’s to “cure” just about everything.

• Ex: Tobacco companies were notorious for using this in their advertising.

Social Media feeds you what you want to hear

True, an example of misinformation is climate change on social media.

Peer Review

Strives to remove errors and bias from a scientist’s experimentation and reporting.

Have no direct ties or connections to the scientists whose report they are evaluating.

Scientific Peers

Read a draft of the proposed report

Peer Review process requires actual humans.

True

Scientific Method

Procedure used in the practice of natural science that includes observation, measurement, experimentation, creation and modification of hypotheses, and conclusion, to investigate scientific phenomena.

O.H.E.R 😗

1. Observation: Make no attempt to explain why the phenomenon being observed is happening.

2. Hypothesis: Proposed explanation.

3. Experiment: Tests hypothesis.

4. Results: Most likely get published!