Module 7: Fact or Fallacy?
7 dot points across 2 inquiry questions, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.
Inquiry Question 1: How does science differ from pseudoscience and how is this related to authoritative scientific information?
Distinguishing science from pseudoscience. Falsifiability, peer review, openness to revision, the demarcation problem, and worked HSC past exam questions.
Climate consensus. Covers how the IPCC consensus is built, the strength of evidence, common denial tactics, the role of funded misinformation, and worked HSC past exam questions.
Pseudoscience case studies. Covers homeopathy's principles, the NHMRC 2015 review, why dilutions cannot work chemically, and worked HSC past exam questions on evaluating pseudoscientific claims.
Inquiry Question 2: How do scientific claims become misinterpreted and how can scientific evidence be evaluated?
Logical fallacies and cognitive bias. Covers ad hominem, appeal to authority, false dichotomy, confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and worked HSC past exam questions.
Correlation and causation. Covers the difference, the Bradford Hill criteria, named examples like smoking and lung cancer, and worked HSC past exam questions.
Andrew Wakefield's 1998 paper. Covers the original claim, the methodological flaws, the conflict of interest, the retraction and its lasting impact on vaccination rates, and worked HSC past exam questions.
Evaluating evidence. Covers the hierarchy of evidence, what each level contributes, how to identify weak claims, and worked HSC past exam questions on medical and scientific reporting.