SPED102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Confirmation Bias, Extrasensory Perception, Pseudoscience
8 May 2018
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SPED102 Lecture & Tutorial Questions
Week 4
IV: Science vs Pseudoscience
What is science
• From the Latin ‘scientia’ meaning knowledge
• Refers to the process of obtaining an organised body of knowledge about natural phenomena
through systematic, objective, replicable and rigorous observation or experimentation
Key features of the scientific approach
• Evidence
• Objectivity
• Falsification
• Transparency
• Replication
• Generality
• Cumulative
• Control
What is pseudoscience?
• A doctrine or belief that presents to be a science (Hines 2003)
• Mimics the terminology and conspicuous trappings of science but ignores the key and
fundamental principles and procedures
Fundamentals of pseudoscience
• Reliance on authority
• Subjectivity
• Non-falsifiability
• Lack of transparency
• Failure to replicate
• Lack of generality
• Non-cumulative
• Lack of control or critical analysis
Tutorial Questions
1. What are the main features of science that distinguish it from pseudoscience?
Science is evidence based and objective, whereas pseudoscience is subjective and not
evidence based. Instead, a feature of pseudoscience is non-fallibility, which means that not
only can it not be proved, it can not be disproved either, unlike science. Further, science often
features a control and critical analysis, whilst pseudoscience does not. Replication is also a
focus in science in order to be sure of claims, while pseudoscience is not concerned with
replication due to its often inability to be studied or proven. (See notes above for more)
2. What are some examples of pseudoscience?
• Astrology
• Telepathy
• Levitation
• Extra-sensory perception
3. Is belief in pseudoscientific claims harmful? Give some examples.
Belief in pseudoscientific claims can be harmful for a number of reasons. Pseudoscience is
deceptive and people can be misled into spending time, money and/or effort on things that
actually have no scientific backing.
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Document Summary
What is science: from the latin scientia" meaning knowledge, refers to the process of obtaining an organised body of knowledge about natural phenomena through systematic, objective, replicable and rigorous observation or experimentation. Key features of the scientific approach: evidence, objectivity, falsification, transparency, replication, generality, cumulative, control. What is pseudoscience: a doctrine or belief that presents to be a science (hines 2003, mimics the terminology and conspicuous trappings of science but ignores the key and fundamental principles and procedures. Fundamentals of pseudoscience: reliance on authority, subjectivity, non-falsifiability, lack of transparency, failure to replicate, lack of generality, non-cumulative, lack of control or critical analysis. Science is evidence based and objective, whereas pseudoscience is subjective and not evidence based. Instead, a feature of pseudoscience is non-fallibility, which means that not only can it not be proved, it can not be disproved either, unlike science. Further, science often features a control and critical analysis, whilst pseudoscience does not.
