(A mythical jackalope) - See instructions and reading below ;)

Overview

Go to any grocery store check-out line and you will see headlines that read "Lose 10 pounds on new miracle diet" or "Magnetic bracelet increases life expectancy by 15 years." Posts on Facebook claim "Bottled Water Causes Cancer" and "Simply Grown Backyard Herbs Can Improve Eyesight." Our world is full of messages that at first glance may appear to be scientifically sound, but with closer examination by a critically thinking mind, it becomes evident that these claims are examples of pseudoscience. "Pseudo" means fake, and the best way to avoid being fooled by pseudoscience (also referred to as junk science, bad science, and quackery), is to have a deep understanding of science.

For this quiz assignment, you will learn how tell the difference between real science and pseudo (fake) science. The reading for this lesson discusses why it hard for scientist to fight back against misconceptions readers have based on pseudoscience (fake science). The author gives several reasons why readers of accept pseudoscience as scientific truth when it isn't.

The author makes suggestions that will help scientists better communicate real science and also increase interest and access to scientific literacy. The purpose of this activity is for you to become aware of some of the biases and assumptions that may lead you to believe fake science. This is a way to help you begin to think critically about the way you read and think when engaging in scientific or "scientific sounding" texts.

A quiz follows on the next page.

Read

Read Why people fall for pseudoscience (and how academics can fight back) by Sian Townson (2017).

Take the Quiz