Science vs. Pseudoscience

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Science vs. Pseudoscience
Unit 1 Nature of Science
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Pseudoscience

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

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What is Pseudoscience?

• The word pseudo means false. Pseudoscience
  directly translated means false science
• Basically it is a study or claim that is not
  backed with any hard data or facts.

• Fringe Science
• Junk Science
• Hoax Science
• Bad Science

Other names for pseudoscience include
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Examples of Pseudoscience

• Astrology
• Crop circles
• 2012 Apocalypse
• Phrenology
• ESP
• Alien encounters
• Hypnosis
• And many, many more!

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Science vs. Pseudoscience
Science Pseudoscience
Its goal is to achieve a more complete understanding of the physical world. Its goal is more likely to be driven by personal or private gains (profit or fame).
There is research to back up their claims. Constantly looking to expand knowledge of the subject. Little evidence to support their ideas and the research that is carried out tries only to prove they are right.
Explanations must be stated in clear, unambiguous terms. Pseudoscientific explanations tend to be vague and ambiguous.
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Science or Pseudoscience?
Ivory soap floats because of trapped air bubbles
in the soap, NOT because it is 99.4 pure soap.
The Ivory soap ad states . . . The soap so
pure it floats!
However, the idea of soap floating because it is
pure made people buy more Ivory soap.