Paper
tl;dr Write a case research on a state of affairs the place the method of science has run off the rails.
Case Examine: Flawed Process of Science
The scientific strategy has resulted in an explosion of know-how and data about our world. Nonetheless, when utilized with out consideration to integrity – to making sure rigor, thoroughness, and accuracy – even sincere, well-meaning scientists can attain incorrect conclusions. Worse, the intentional misapplication of the scientific technique, or the use of the trimmings of scientific research to lend credence to a spurious concept (“pseudoscience”), is a strong instrument of deception, by which unhealthy actors declare that deliberate misinformation resulted from an unbiased scientific course of.
On this paper, you’ll discover what occurs when the method of scientific thought is both negligently or maliciously derailed.
Select a up to date (roughly, since 1875) phenomenon by which this occurred. (It doesn’t must be particularly about physics or astronomy; your instance might come from any discipline that purports to make use of the scientific course of, together with the social sciences.) Your instance must have at the least the next properties:
• Somebody made a declare purporting to be the consequence of scientific research
• This declare was false or not well-founded
• The inaccurate declare resulted ultimately from some failing within the course of of science.
◦ This is likely to be as a result of of an sincere mistake
◦ It is likely to be as a result of somebody actually ought to have been extra cautious
◦ It may also be a consequence of deliberate deception or malice
As a reminder, frequent fallacies that one can find embody:
• Sampling bias: utilizing a restricted and biased knowledge set that isn’t consultant of the broader inhabitants
• Overgeneralization: drawing broad conclusions from restricted proof (i.e. generalizing from a psychological research of American school college students to all folks)
• Argument advert hominem: rejecting official scientific findings primarily based on who the scientists are, slightly than contemplating the information itself
• Ignoring refuting proof: failing to contemplate or intentionally ignoring proof that calls into Question Assignment the declare being made
• Manufacturing an argument: trying to erode public confidence in official scientific conclusions by creating the looks of an argument when no actual controversy exists
• Sensationalism: conflating an illustration that one thing is thrilling with proof that’s true
up to date (roughly, since 1875) phenomenon NB: The chosen up to date phenomenon is Meals Combining Weight loss program.
So, what do I would like you to do?
Write a brief essay of 750-1500 phrases (2-Three pages single spaced; Three-6 pages double spaced) that discusses what occurred, and describes in what means the ideas of scientific integrity or rigor had been compromised.
Your paper must also describe what “warning indicators” another person would possibly observe that will trace that one thing is mistaken. What questions ought to a skeptical viewers (whether or not fellow scientists or most people) have requested that might level out the issues within the argument being made? That is particularly necessary if you’re discussing an instance of deliberate misinformation: how might another person have acknowledged that they had been being lied to?
Lastly, if the difficulty resulted from negligence or a mistake, slightly than a deliberate try and deceive anybody, describe what the researchers ought to have accomplished as an alternative to make sure that they didn’t attain incorrect conclusions.
A couple of notes:
• This matter might lead you into political territory. It’s completely okay to have clear views. For example, in the event you imagine that one aspect of a problem has extra advantage than the opposite, you do not want to spend “equal time” articulating the place of the “different aspect” that you simply imagine is defective. (We’ll of course consider your work primarily based on whether or not you state your positions properly and thoughtfully, not whether or not the individual grading your paper agrees with you!) Nonetheless, your paper ought to give attention to the method of science and the way it has gone astray; it shouldn’t merely be an advocacy paper for a specific coverage place.
• You might write a few single experiment/declare, or a sequence of linked claims that type a coherent motion.
What will we count on relating to quotation of sources and tutorial integrity?
• We count on you to write down an articulate essay consisting of each your personal ideas and (probably) analysis that you simply do on the library or on the web.
• We count on you to indicate clearly which textual content is authentic to you, which displays concepts which you discovered elsewhere however have digested and expressed in your personal phrases, and which textual content is a direct quote from another person’s phrases. Briefly, it is advisable to cite your sources, in any clear format you might be acquainted with. You don’t want tons of sources, however any references you employ it is best to inform me about. This could embody at a minimal URL’s and web page titles for on-line sources, and guide titles, authors, and publication years for books. Word that in depth use of direct quotes is discouraged. A direct quote ought to solely be used when the unique creator mentioned it higher than you probably might, and if that’s typically the case, then this makes us Question Assignment your writing talent!
• We count on you to critically contemplate the validity and reliability of your sources. Simply becuse one thing exhibits up in a Google search doesn’t imply that the creator is well-informed. (After all, you’ll possible be citing incorrect issues with the intention to discuss them!)
• We count on you to write down your paper your self. Bear in mind my commonplace for tutorial integrity: “tutorial dishonesty consists of substituting another person’s understanding on your personal.” Discuss to different folks (and cite them). Look stuff up on-line! Discuss to your folks and get them to learn your paper for you! However, in the end, you need to perceive every thing you write, and have composed the phrases your self.
How will this be graded?
The grading will probably be accomplished by a mix of your recitation TA’s and professors.
For those who write an exemplary essay right here, particularly one which teaches us one thing we didn’t know, you could earn additional credit score.
Longer papers will get no increased of a grade except they use their additional phrases to really say one thing fascinating. There are nearly 5 hundred of you and grading goes to take some time, so in the event you solely have just a few issues to say, say them properly and succinctly, and be proud.
We’ll grade you primarily based on:
• perception into the method of science and factual correctness
• readability of writing. Word that we are going to not nitpick spelling or minor grammar points, and will probably be significantly lenient to college students who haven’t lived for lengthy in an English-speaking nation. I’m extra serious about whether or not your concepts match collectively to inform a coherent story.
• creativity, specifically in relating your situation to different points or developments in human thought
• We aren’t on the lookout for perfection; we’re on the lookout for perception. I’m conscious that many of you converse English as a second language. Don’t fear about your English expertise; I need to know what you assume.
