What is a reliable resource about science?

Individual Assignment (10 pts)

The Dilemma – Truth or BS?

How can we tell when some apparently “Scientific” looking information is actually science, or just a marketing strategy?  This is a common problem for people trying to choose products that claim to improve their appearance, intelligence or health, or that might impact their health in a negative way. How can we know whether what appears to be a highly reliable author is telling the truth, especially in situations related to serious health issues, like cancer?   Do vitamins and muscle building supplements actually do you any good?  What are the real effects of Cosmetics and what are you actually paying for?  Do video games really rot your brain?

 

In order to figure out what makes good science, good and bad science, bad, we will start reading the book, Bad Science:  Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks by Ben Goldacre (more info for purchasing on syllabus).  He’s also got a web site, if you are interested:  http://www.badscience.net/, with a link to his Ted Talk.

Assignment

• Read chapters 1-4 in the Bad Science (again this is a quick, fun, often surprising read, available from Amazon as an e-book in Kindle format for about $10; don’t take copious notes, just sit down and read).
• Answer the following questions.

Questions

1. Your Favorite Quote. Select a line or two from the first four chapters that you find entertaining, interesting, or perplexing.  Provide the quote, the quote’s location, and explain why this quote made you stop and pause about science, scientists, or people who use science to do … well to do what they do.
2. This Story. Each chapter explores a different story about the ways that science can be used or misused to influence us.  Which story did you find most compelling?  Explain why.
3. The New You. So what?  Draft a reflection paragraph (minimum 150 words) telling your teammates in your discussion group and me how your views about science/scientists have changed after reading these chapters.  I guess it is possible that your opinions about good and bad science/scientists hasn’t changed, but even if you haven’t changed how you are thinking, tell us why you still hold your views about science and scientists.  Include this as part of your response to the assignment, and also post it on the blog for your group.  (I’ll be pretty flexible on the getting it on the blog part, but give it shot).

 

Grading

The reason I was so insistent that everyone had to take the Academic Integrity is that you are going to grade yourselves.  If you give yourself a grade you clearly didn’t deserve, I will give you a 0 for the entire 40 points this project is worth, and you will not be able to drop it.  Do this twice, and I will take you to the honor committee.

 

 

You will use the following Rubric in the “Bad Science Self-Assessment Test”:

 

Question 1.

Providing the quote, and its location:              1 pt

Explaining why you chose the quote:              1 pt

 

Question 2.

Stating which story you found most compelling:        1 pt

Explaining why:                                                                         1 pt

 

Question 3.

Is your response at least 150 words?                                                               2 pts

Did you proof your response for spelling, grammar and clarity?          2 pts

Did you clearly explain your views on Science?                                           2 pts

 

 

Maximum is 10 points