GS 201 Scientific Skepticism - Someone is Wrong on the Internet

The goal of this course is to explore scientific skepticism from a variety of angles. We will examine controversial scientific topics such as evolution, climate change, vaccine safety, GMOs and alternative medicine. The foundations of scientific skepticism including psychology, social science, logical fallacies, philosophy of science, media, statistics, criticism of science and the history of science and skepticism will provide a framework. Information literacy, science communication and debate skills will be developed throughout.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Investigate claims using reliable resources
2. Evaluate trustworthiness of sources (scientific literature, predatory journals, government agencies, media, scientific organizations)
3. Understand and recognize strong vs. weak scientific arguments
4. Understand and recognize logical fallacies in the context of scientific arguments
5. Identify red flags
6. Understand differences between science, pseudoscience, bad science and bullshit
7. Apply this knowledge to assessing likely validity of arguments
8. Learn and recognize M.O.s of pseudoscience (pseudo-experts, cherry picking, innuendo, moving goalposts, self-refuting ideas, etc.)
9. Learn to distinguish skeptics from deniers
10. Ask, answer scientific questions to help evaluate arguments
11. Seek, identify and interpret relevant scientific background
12. Seek, identify and evaluate relevant journalistic background as needed
13. Understand and identify cognitive biases, assumptions, framing in self and others
14. Analyze and debate issues: Formulate goals, tactics, strategies
15. Gather appropriate information, execute plans and modify as appropriate
16. Improve metacognitive skills: Reflect on knowledge and skills
17. Evaluate effectiveness. Propose improvements. Experiment with new ideas and strategies
18. Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of experimental design and scientific studies. Learn to search for and identify scientific consensus
19. Improve understanding of statistics and uncertainty
20. Understand common statistical tools and identify common misuses of statistics
21. Become familiar with, understand and apply skepticism literature on common topics
22. Learn and understand standard arguments (especially PRATTs) on common topics
23. Apply knowledge to discussions and debates
24. Demonstrate openness to other views and intellectual honesty in discussing them
25. Explore impacts of decisions on individuals, communities and the world
26. Examine scientific basis, or lack thereof, for individual and group biases
27. Employ debate strategies that respect others
28. Understand and articulate issues in foundations of science, science communication, media and science, risk assessment, statistics
29. Apply understanding to analysis, discussion and debates of scientific issues