Is It Science?

Most everything in this world can be further explored and investigated through science. Whether
it's discovering a brand new species, developing a life-saving medicine, or looking for life on another
planet, scientists are constantly finding endless ways to apply new scientific knowledge to all parts
of our lives. The tricky part is learning the difference between actual science and what we like to call
pseudoscience (or fake science). Here's the good news: we've outlined some useful ways to spot the
fakes and identify the real stuff (the science, that is).

Science: Fake or Not?

Focus Question:

How does information appear to be science?

Science has been around for a very long time. We're talking about centuries of investigations and
discoveries about our world. There's tons of scientific knowledge, but let's be clear: this isn't your
grandparents' science. It's so much more.

Pull up the Web for any type of scientific information, and within seconds hundreds of websites
come up in your search results, all claiming to have the answers you seek. With so many sources to
choose from, how do you know what is science and what is not?

Being "science-y" has become trendy. Everyone wants to claim a new discovery or debunk a myth
using science. There are thousands of articles and resources claiming to have scientific information,
but just because it looks like science doesn't mean it is.
Take a look at the news headline below. Does this headline lead to scientific evidence that supports
the author's claim?

Parents are putting their kids at risk for cancer because they spend too much time looking at
screens. The Child Research Agency reports that children spend an average of four hours a day in
front of the TV or the computer.

Doctors warn that sitting for long periods of time can lead to obesity, heart disease, or diabetes. Dr.
Applegate from the Cancer Research Group says that allowing children

to sit for long periods of time will lead to bad habits later.

Dr. Wilson from the Pediatric Society stated, "Being overweight can increase levels of certain
hormones and these hormones have been linked with some cancers." Being more active can reduce
the risk of some cancers by 30 percent.
TV & Computer Craze Is Giving Kids Cancer. Docs say children must take more screen breaks. 7 January 2013. The World's
Best Selling National Newspaper

A Second of Science
Think about it. Are televisions and computers really giving kids cancer? It's easy to be fooled by
headlines that seem to be supported by science. This article uses important words such as doctors,
experts, reports, and research—but none of these words leads to scientific evidence that supports
the headline's claim. The article states that parents are putting their children at risk for cancer
because they watch too much television. To prove this statement, the article would need to provide
evidence that watching television directly leads to some form of cancer. However, the article only
states that obesity and inactivity can increase the changes of cancer, not the act of watching
television. It is not a direct support of the claim being made. At this point, the headline is only the
opinion of the writer, and nothing more.

Science Versus Non-Science

Focus Question:

What is science?

Let's identify some key characteristics of science and non-science. This will help you distinguish
scientific facts from non-scientific information in the things you read and watch, such as online
articles or television news shows.

This Is Science
To figure out if something is real science, look for these key characteristics that support a prediction,
idea, or claim.

Science attempts to explain natural phenomena by analyzing and observing the world and
testing ideas about it.
The results of tests are called empirical evidence because the data collected can be observed or
measured through experimentation.

Empirical evidence can be replicated, or reproduced, and verified by other scientists if they
conduct the same tests under the same conditions.

The more an experiment is repeated, with the same outcomes, the more reliable the evidence
becomes. Evidence without bias also increases its reliability.
As new information is discovered, new evidence can add to current evidence, allowing scientists
to improve their theories.

Phenomena: an observable event or occurrence; plural of phenomenon

Replicated: the reproduction of a scientific investigation by another person to ensure accuracy

Reliable: to be consistently good or able to be trusted

Bias: a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group

This Is Non-Science
There are many fields of knowledge, such as philosophy or art, that add to our view of the world.
They can help us appreciate the beauty in nature, guide our interactions with others, and help us
decide between right and wrong choices. However, if there is no way to measure, observe, or test
these beliefs or opinions, they are not considered science.

Philosophy: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
To Science, or Not to Science?
Focus Question:

What questions can be answered with science?

The simplest way to determine if the information you are reading is based on science or not is to
review the question being asked. There are just some questions that science cannot answer. Here
are a couple of things you can look for to determine if a question can be answered with science:

● If the question is asking about an opinion or a moral value, it's not something that can be
measured using a scientific process. Therefore, it cannot be answered with science.

● If the answer to the question cannot be tested and observed, it is not considered science.

Testable or Not Testable? — Text Version

Which questions can be answered with a scientific investigation? Match the questions to the correct
column.

1. What gases make up the atmosphere of Earth?

2. Why do you think the environment is important?
3. Should mining of phosphates be stopped?
4. What gives a person's life meaning?
5. What career should I pursue after I graduate?
6. Should the use of coal and other fossil fuels be banned?
7. What are the effects of high winds during a hurricane?
8. How many people live in an area prone to earthquakes?
9. To what extent has climate changed over the past 100 years?
10. How long does it take water to freeze?
● Testable
● Non-testable

Show Answer for Slide

Testable

● What gases make up the atmosphere of Earth?

● How long does it take water to freeze?
● How many people live in an area prone to earthquakes?
● To what extent has climate changed over the past 100 years?
● What are the effects of high winds during a hurricane?

Non-testable

● What career should I pursue after I graduate?

● Should the use of coal and other fossil fuels be banned?
● Should mining of phosphates be stopped?
● What gives a person's life meaning?
● Why do you think the environment is important?

A Method to the Science

Focus Question:

How do we use the scientific method to conduct investigations?

Science is used to explain natural phenomena in our world, such as plant growth, earthquakes,
weather patterns, and the formation of the planets. Through systematic study and experimentation,
also known as scientific investigation, scientists can explain how and why these marvels of nature
take place.
Overall:-

The Scientific Method

There is a system for conducting a scientific investigation called the scientific method. The scientific
method includes five main steps. Take a peek at the overall system before diving into each step.

Question:-
Ask a Question
Scientific investigations usually begin with an observation and a question about it. Starting with a
question guides the investigation and helps you know what knowledge you are trying to find.

For example:

● How do we get energy from sunlight?

● Why do bacteria make us sick?
● What is at the center of the universe?

For any question you can imagine, if it's testable, you can use a scientific investigation to find the
answer.
Research:-
Do Background Research
The next step is to do background research. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Don't reinvent the
wheel"? It means don't start from the beginning if someone has already started it for you. Find
resources that will give you information about your question. Someone may have researched it
before. Previous investigations into the topic may lead you to new questions that need answers.

Hypothesis:-
Construct a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess, prediction, or proposed explanation based on some research or
observation. Predicting means you are anticipating what will happen as a consequence of
something else. Constructing a hypothesis gives you variables to test in the investigations.

Most hypotheses are made using an "if, then" statement. If "this" happens, then "that" will take
place. This helps you know how one thing can affect another and gives you something to test.

For example, "If my plant receives three hours of sunlight a day, then it will grow as expected."
Testing:-
Test with an Experiment
An experiment allows you to test your hypothesis and see if it is a correct or incorrect prediction of
your outcome. As you conduct the experiment, you collect data, which is usually recorded on a table
or in an some other organized fashion. An experiment should always have clear and concise
procedures to follow. Procedures also allow other people to reproduce the experiment. If your
procedures are not allowing you to test your hypothesis, you must correct them.

A variable is a factor within an experiment that will vary or change. All factors in an experiment
should be the same, with the exception of the variable. For instance, if you want to know if plants
grow better in red light, all the plants of the experiment should be grown in the same soil, get the
same amount of water, and get the same amount of light. Only the color of the light should change
in the experiment.

Analysis:-
Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions
Once an experiment is complete, the results need to be analyzed to determine if the outcome supports your
hypothesis. To do this, scientists interpret the data, create graphs or charts, or even use mathematics to make
connections between the variables. The goal is for the scientist to make inferences about their experimental
data. An inference is a conclusion derived from evidence and logical reasoning.
If you see footprints in the sand going in the direction of the beach, you can use logical reasoning to infer that
someone recently walked down to the shore. The same reasoning can be used when analyzing results and
formulating a conclusion.

Once a conclusion is made, you can communicate your results, or use the results to help you do new
investigations.

Important

Other Forms of Investigation

All investigations share steps of the scientific method, such as asking a question, conducting
research, or analyzing data. The differences between investigations are usually related to what's
being examined and the order of the steps followed.

In a criminal investigation, facts are collected about a crime that has already happened. While there
are individual tests that can be done on certain types of evidence, there isn't an experiment to test
every part of a crime. It can also be difficult to control all factors in a crime scene in order to test
one variable at a time. Usually, there are so many variables and missing facts in a crime that a
hypothesis and conclusion are hard to determine.
How to Spot a Fake
Focus Question:

What is pseudoscience?

Pseudoscience is a non-science that falsely portrays itself as real science. It does so by copying parts
of real science or ignoring sections of the scientific method within an investigation. Even a tiny
mistake can turn a scientific explanation into a pseudoscientific claim.

For example, if a group of scientists want to know if students prefer the taste of a particular type of
soda, they must control all factors in their experiment except for the students' sense of taste. If they
conduct their tests on students and allow them to see the color of the soda they are testing, then
their results are unreliable. There is bias in their results. They would not be able to claim any
preference for one soda or another because students may have picked a soda based on its color, not
its taste.

A Second of Science

Phrenology

Phrenology is the pseudoscience of matching bumps on a human skull to personality traits. When it
was first introduced, neurologists hoped it would help diagnose brain disorders.
Phrenologists believed the brain was a muscle, and personality traits used more often would bulge,
as your biceps do when you exercise. However, the brain is not an actual muscle (though it acts like
one) and does not bulge past the skull.

Let's look at some additional errors in scientific inquiry and investigation that can lead to
pseudoscience.

Botanists have a new plant fertilizer to test. If they don't compare fertilized plants with unfertilized
plants (a control group), they won't know if the fertilizer helps plants grow. A control group is the
group left untouched by the experimental process. The tested group is compared to the control
group to validate the results of the experiment.

Two people lose weight on a new diet program. Unfortunately, with too few test subjects, we don't
really know if the diet program caused the weight loss. The program needs repeated testing and
replication from other scientists to make the results reliable.
A pharmaceutical company has spent millions of dollars on research for a new drug to treat
diabetes. They need it to be successful, so they hire a group of scientists to test their new drug.
Since the scientists are paid by the company, they may feel pressure to overlook certain results in
favor of the positive results the company wants to see. This favoritism is called bias.

Summary
Science is amazing. There are magnetic imaging machines that can detect injuries and illnesses.
There's technology that can make artificial limbs. There's detection of water on other planets.
What's next? What can we do with even more scientific knowledge?

There are new vocabulary terms in this lesson:

● Bias: a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group

● Control group: a group left untouched by the experimental process

● Empirical evidence: knowledge gained through observation and experimentation

● Hypothesis: an educated guess, prediction, or proposed explanation based on some research or

observation.

● Inference: a conclusion derived from evidence and logical reasoning

● Natural phenomena: an observable event or occurrence in nature

● Pseudoscience: a non-science that falsely portrays itself as real science

● Reliable: consistently good or able to be trusted

● Scientific investigation: systematic study or experimentation

● Scientific method: a system of steps to conduct a scientific investigation

● Variable: a factor within an experiment that will vary or change