← Investigating Science syllabus
Module 7: Fact or Fallacy?
7 dot points across 2 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.
Inquiry Question 1: How does science differ from pseudoscience and how is this related to authoritative scientific information?
- Investigate how scientific consensus is established and how it has been challenged, using climate change as a case study
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on 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.
6 min answer → - Distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific claims, identifying characteristics of each
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on distinguishing science from pseudoscience. Falsifiability, peer review, openness to revision, the demarcation problem, and worked HSC past exam questions.
5 min answer → - Investigate a pseudoscientific belief and evaluate the evidence for and against, including a complementary or alternative therapy
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on 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.
5 min answer →
Inquiry Question 2: How do scientific claims become misinterpreted and how can scientific evidence be evaluated?
- Distinguish correlation from causation, identifying confounding variables and the criteria for establishing causation
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on correlation and causation. Covers the difference, the Bradford Hill criteria, named examples like smoking and lung cancer, and worked HSC past exam questions.
5 min answer → - Evaluate the validity, reliability and accuracy of scientific evidence presented in claims, considering the hierarchy of evidence in medical research
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on 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.
5 min answer → - Identify common logical fallacies and cognitive biases that distort scientific claims, including ad hominem, appeals to authority and confirmation bias
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on 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.
5 min answer → - Investigate a case where a scientific claim has been retracted, including the role of media in disseminating discredited claims
A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 7 dot point on 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.
6 min answer →