Skeptical Investigation Project
- Choose a strange topic that interests you from the skeptical investigation topic list
- Investigate the topic. Your focus should be on what science says about your topic.
- Choose ONE of SEVEN assignment options listed from the menu below to complete
- You will be given several days on the Chromebooks to work.
- You will have about TWO weeks to complete your skeptical investigation
What does the science say?
Skeptical Investigation Option #1 This Is A Pseudoscience Essay
You are to research one pseudo-science and write a short paper on the subject. The paper will tell the story of the pseudoscience from its origins to its role in present-day society. It must also include a brief background on why it is not considered a mainstream science, and what experiments could be (or, have been) attempted to determine its legitimacy. Lastly, you must include a brief discussion of your own personal feelings on the subject: why do you find it interesting, and do you think there is something more to the topic than we presently can/do know? Requirements for the paper:
Our task in this assignment is to identify a pseudoscientific concept and explain why the concept is pseudoscientific in a short (2-3 double-spaced typed pages) written essay. Your essay should be organized as follows:
Our task in this assignment is to identify a pseudoscientific concept and explain why the concept is pseudoscientific in a short (2-3 double-spaced typed pages) written essay. Your essay should be organized as follows:
- Descriptive Title Provide a short but descriptive title that gives the reader a clear undestanding of your essay is about.
- Introduction In the space of a paragraph or two clearly describe/define the pseudoscientific concept. You may want to include a historical perspective that describes the origin of the concept.
- Discussion Explain how the concept fails at being a scientific concept and why it should be considered to be pseudoscientific. This should be the longest section of your paper.
- Conclusion Finish up with a concluding paragraph.
- Sources Include a bibliography listing the literature sources you used to provide information for your paper.
Skeptical Investigation Option #2 Evidence Analysis Essay
Read "A Field Guide to Critical Thinking" - http://www.csicop.org/si/9012/critical-thinking.html
2. Choose a topic that is considered to be in the realm of the paranormal, such as alien abductions, ESP, or ghosts. I suggest you don't choose one that you are personally committed to as it may skew your objectivity. The point of this lesson isn't to convince you either way. The point is to analyze the so-called evidence surrounding the phenomena from a scientific viewpoint and using critical thinking skills.
A list of paranormal topics can be found at the Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/Society/Paranormal/ or on the Pseudoscience Madness page
3. Compile a short list of claims and evidence used to support the existence of the phenomena. You can use various websites and your own knowledge base to compile this list. For instance if I was doing a report on Bigfoot. Some of the claims I might list are: eyewitness accounts, footprints found, and some videotapes.
4. Write a paper that discusses the topic and its evidence and then analyze the evidence at least three areas of reasoning (from "A Field Guide to Critical Thinking".
Falsifiability Logic Comprehensiveness Honesty Replicability Sufficiency
5. Discuss ways that science could support the existence without relying on weak arguments. Use the scientific method and scientific processes to propose a research method that could support the existence of the phenomenon.
2. Choose a topic that is considered to be in the realm of the paranormal, such as alien abductions, ESP, or ghosts. I suggest you don't choose one that you are personally committed to as it may skew your objectivity. The point of this lesson isn't to convince you either way. The point is to analyze the so-called evidence surrounding the phenomena from a scientific viewpoint and using critical thinking skills.
A list of paranormal topics can be found at the Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/Society/Paranormal/ or on the Pseudoscience Madness page
3. Compile a short list of claims and evidence used to support the existence of the phenomena. You can use various websites and your own knowledge base to compile this list. For instance if I was doing a report on Bigfoot. Some of the claims I might list are: eyewitness accounts, footprints found, and some videotapes.
4. Write a paper that discusses the topic and its evidence and then analyze the evidence at least three areas of reasoning (from "A Field Guide to Critical Thinking".
Falsifiability Logic Comprehensiveness Honesty Replicability Sufficiency
5. Discuss ways that science could support the existence without relying on weak arguments. Use the scientific method and scientific processes to propose a research method that could support the existence of the phenomenon.
Skeptical Investigation Option #3 Create a Skeptical Website
Debunk a pseudoscientific idea regarding (a) the healing power of color; (b) math anxiety; (c) romantic love; (d) sexism; (e) I. Q. enhancement through power breathing; or (f) some phenomenon of your own choosing.
Create a website debunking this pseudoscience.
The exercise is impossible if you don't have some guidance as to what kinds of things define pseudoscience. Check the pseudoscience resource links on our "In class" page.
Skeptical Investigation Option #4 Do An Experiment (Up to 2 Students May Work Together)
You are to create a valid scientific experiment to test the nature of one pseudo-science of your choice. Start by choosing a subject that can be experimented on with the least amount of equipment, as you want the experiment to be the simplest and easiest to reproduce. If people will be required as test subjects for an experiment, choose test subjects from non-Earth Science classes (to eliminate any bias). The more outlandish a pseudo-science, the harder it may be to experiment upon. Devise a hypothesis based on the claims of the pseudo-science supporters. In order to test something, you have to know what you are trying to prove, so you need to do a little research into the subject. Remember, a hypothesis is a statement, not a question (ex: eating chocolate ice cream makes people want to buy Kenny Rogers albums). Your experiment is not going to prove that all dowsing rods work (for example), but it might show that there is a definite connection between magnetic fields and successful dowsing rod use. (See Scientific American Frontiers website for more information about dowsing)
Create an experiment to test this hypothesis. The experiment should be as unbiased as possible to avoid interference from outside sources. Also, be sure to think about including a placebo in your experiment (especially if there are test subjects involved). Be sure to write a specific, step-by-step process for how the experiment will run. First and foremost, the experiment needs to be reproducible. You may need to seek help with experimental design. How you design the experiment is almost as important as what it is trying to test.
Perform the experiment. This does not have to happen during class-time, but it may be more appropriate to run it while others are present. Be sure to take notes during the experiment remarking on how each step went, and if there was any interference. You may need to seek help with experimental practices, that you may not be familiar with.
Examine data results, and draw a conclusion based on your stated hypothesis, discussing any sources of errors (human biases, or otherwise) along the way. This step is the end-result of the entire experiment, so it should be taken carefully and slowly. In examining the results, be careful not to let any bias sway your judgment. How clear does the evidence need to be to disprove your hypothesis? If there are conflicting results, could you write them off as simple chance experiences? [For example, if I find that coin flips in a freezer reveal heads four out of ten times, this is not enough data to show anything about temperature affecting random events. I might need 100 trials before I can begin to say anything with some level of certainty. Also, it is too close to the average (5 heads for every ten flips) outcome associated with chance to call one way or the other.] You should also include any ideas you might have for refining your experiment and performing others.
Your final result should be an experiment journal (or, notebook) showing your progress through, and evidence of, all the above steps. It will be a three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper for the contents. The level of detail and forethought will determine your grade. Any equipment used in the experiment must also be provided (or photographic evidence, thereof) when the project is collected. Only one experiment notebook needs to be turned in, but each group member will receive the same grade based on the journal (so make it as neat and polished as possible).
Create an experiment to test this hypothesis. The experiment should be as unbiased as possible to avoid interference from outside sources. Also, be sure to think about including a placebo in your experiment (especially if there are test subjects involved). Be sure to write a specific, step-by-step process for how the experiment will run. First and foremost, the experiment needs to be reproducible. You may need to seek help with experimental design. How you design the experiment is almost as important as what it is trying to test.
Perform the experiment. This does not have to happen during class-time, but it may be more appropriate to run it while others are present. Be sure to take notes during the experiment remarking on how each step went, and if there was any interference. You may need to seek help with experimental practices, that you may not be familiar with.
Examine data results, and draw a conclusion based on your stated hypothesis, discussing any sources of errors (human biases, or otherwise) along the way. This step is the end-result of the entire experiment, so it should be taken carefully and slowly. In examining the results, be careful not to let any bias sway your judgment. How clear does the evidence need to be to disprove your hypothesis? If there are conflicting results, could you write them off as simple chance experiences? [For example, if I find that coin flips in a freezer reveal heads four out of ten times, this is not enough data to show anything about temperature affecting random events. I might need 100 trials before I can begin to say anything with some level of certainty. Also, it is too close to the average (5 heads for every ten flips) outcome associated with chance to call one way or the other.] You should also include any ideas you might have for refining your experiment and performing others.
Your final result should be an experiment journal (or, notebook) showing your progress through, and evidence of, all the above steps. It will be a three-ring binder with loose-leaf paper for the contents. The level of detail and forethought will determine your grade. Any equipment used in the experiment must also be provided (or photographic evidence, thereof) when the project is collected. Only one experiment notebook needs to be turned in, but each group member will receive the same grade based on the journal (so make it as neat and polished as possible).
Skeptical Investigation Option #5 Skeptical Meme Set
Create a set of 5-6 memes that provide a critical and skeptical examination of a pseudoscientific topic
Skeptical Investigation Option #6 Create a skeptical themed art piece
This artwork is to be submitted to the end of the year art show.
Skeptical Investigation Option #7 Create A Presentation
Choose a person from the Gallery of Wackos or a topic from the topic list. Create a presentation illustrating the pseudoscientific claims made. Provide the scientific counter arguments to the claims.
Skeptical Investigation Assignment Files
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