Science or Pseudoscience?

Science or Pseudoscience?
What is Pseudoscience?
• “False” science.
• Claims to be scientific or at an even higher
level than science.
• Fails to comply with the usual scientific tests.
• Inconsistent with existing, well-established
scientific knowledge.
Claims Require
Independent Testing
• Pseudoscientific claims are based on a non-evidential style

of belief.
• Many pseudoscientific claims are never tested scientifically.
• When pseudoscientific claims are tested, methods,
conclusions are questionable.
• Others cannot replicate test “successes.”
• Excuse given of “fragility” of phenomena.
What’s Your Sign?
• Tally how many participants choose their own sign and

how many do not.
• Consider if the findings are significant.
Criticisms of Astrology
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• Constellation names & limits are arbitrary

• Ophiucus, Cetus omitted from Zodiac
• Original signs, constellations out of step
• Planets are not “in” constellations
• There is no single moment of birth
• Doctor exerts greater G force than planets
• If many vague predictions are made, it is impossible to always
be wrong
Why Investigate Pseudoscience?
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• Teach relevant science concepts.

• Clarify what science is (and is not).
• Engage students in scientific inquiry.
• Engage students in scientific thinking.
• Improve creative and critical thinking.
• Help develop an evidential style of belief.
• Equip students to evaluate future pseudoscientific claims, e.g.,
media.
A Thought
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• “The dogmatism of science--the tendency to interpret

facts in light of theories--is not absolute but relative.
What distinguishes science from pseudoscience is … that
scientists stand ready to give up one dogma for another
should the evidence warrant it. Pseudoscientists refuse to
give up their dogmas regardless of the evidence against
them” (R. Carroll).
Nature of a Scientific
Theory/Explanation
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• Consistent with itself and with other accepted theories.

• Sparing in entities and assumptions.
• Testable and falsifiable.
• Based on repeated, controlled experiments.
• Altered in accord with new discoveries.
• Admits possible error rather than certainty.
• Remember….C.O.N.P.T.T.
Scientific Evidence
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• Scientific claims must be based on scientific evidence.

• Scientific evidence results from experience, reasoning,
use of instruments, others.
• Empirical evidence of the senses, unassisted or assisted,
is fundamental.
• Warrant for a claim refers to the quality of evidence with
respect to the claim, e.g., “likely that” vs “possible that”.
Evaluating the Quality of
Scientific Evidence
• To what degree does the evidence support the claim (e.g.,

“a lot”, “a little”)?
• How secure is the evidence itself, independent of the
claim?
• How much relevant evidence is there (e.g., one test vs
many tests)?
“I Saw Bigfoot”
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• Many pseudoscientific claims are based on personal, anecdotal

evidence.
• Are essentially second hand stories: “I saw Bigfoot.” “I was
abducted by aliens.”
• Problems:
• Very hard to verify or test
• Essentially unfalsifiable
• Collected in a haphazard way/filtered
• Argument from authority
Occam’s Razor
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• When we are faced with more than one hypothesis that

explains the data equally well, we choose the simpler
explanation.
• A hairy creature in the woods is more likely a bear than
Bigfoot.
• An unknown object in the sky is more likely a balloon than
a flying saucer.
• “When you hear hoof beats, think of horses not zebras.”
Alternative Explanations
of the Evidence
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• Non-occurrence of the event: It didn’t happen.

• Human error, e.g., mistaken observations and/or
inferences.
• Fraud/trickery, e.g., fake Bigfoot photos, stage magic
masquerading as ESP.
• Chance, e.g., coincidental events, a long run of heads in
coin flipping.
• Science.
Could This Be Pseudoscience?
• Claim is first publicized thru mass media.

• Claim is sensational and exaggerated.
• Evidence for the claim is anecdotal.
• Claim contradicts known scientific principles.
• Claim uses scientific-sounding terminology in non-
scientific ways.
Is a Pseudoscientist Making This
Claim?
• Claimant has worked alone.

• Claimant says methods of discovery and testing the claim
are secret.
• Claimant says the ruling elite is trying to suppress the claim.
• Claimant appeals to false authority.
• Claimant says a belief is reliable because it is ancient.
• Claimant seeks publicity and profits.
Examples of Pseudoscience
• Mental Powers: ESP, mind reading, precognition,
psychic surgery, auras
• Spirit World: contacting the dead, ouija board,
channeling, astral travel, astrology
• Natural Mysteries: dowsing, Atlantis, crop circles,
Bigfoot, Loch Ness monster
• Aliens & UFOs: flying saucers, Roswell, alien
abductions, Men in Black
• http://research.omicsgroup.org/index.php/List_of
_topics_characterized_as_pseudoscience

Science or Pseudoscience?

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Science or Pseudoscience?

• Pseudoscientific claims are based on a non-evidential style

• Tally how many participants choose their own sign and

• Constellation names & limits are arbitrary

• Teach relevant science concepts.

• “The dogmatism of science--the tendency to interpret

• Consistent with itself and with other accepted theories.

• Scientific claims must be based on scientific evidence.

• To what degree does the evidence support the claim (e.g.,

• Many pseudoscientific claims are based on personal, anecdotal

• When we are faced with more than one hypothesis that

• Non-occurrence of the event: It didn’t happen.

• Claim is first publicized thru mass media.

• Claimant has worked alone.

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