1.  Expectations ~ Another problem with observation is that our expectations can influence what we see, hear, or believe….  What if everything we hear in the news is really a lie or misinformation of the truth… http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA

2.  Icebreaker: In your journal please respond to the following questions:  Is science the only road to knowledge?  Does science have a monopoly on truth?  How far do the natural sciences give us certainty?

3.  Natural Sciences include: Physics Chemistry Biology

4.  Some argue that science is the only road to knowledge  Natural Sciences are the dominant cognitive paradigm (model of knowledge)  Science is not God and has weaknesses and limitations  Scientific beliefs change over time.

5.  How have advertisers used the language of science to market products?

7.  Inductivism is the traditional picture of the scientific method: Observation Hypothesis Experiment Law Theory

8.  Relevance – you must begin with what is relevant and irrelevant to the problem.  Expectations – expectations can influence what we see  Expert Seeing – use of scientific equipment can often further complicate things  The Observer Effect – the act can affect the outcome.

9.  Relevance – it is always possible to overlook a factor  Expectations – overconfidence  Expert Seeing – observer is only as good as their equipment.  The Observer Effect – the observer changes the experiment – thermometer in the hot tea.

10.  Confirmation Bias – people look for evidence that confirms and ignore what goes against them.  A good scientist is aware of confirmation bias.

11.  Karl Popper (1902-1994) – tried to distinguish science from pseudoscience (Marxism/psychoanalysis).  “A theory that explains everything explains nothing” – a scientific theory must put itself at risk to be disproven.

12.  Paradigm – an overarching theory shared by a community of scientists, such as physicists, chemists, or biologists, which is used to make sense of some aspect of reality.  i.e. – Newtonian mechanics in physics, Atomic theory in chemistry, & Evolutionary theory in biology.

13.  Science has been responsible for a large body of knowledge in the past 300 years.  Science is limited to our understanding of our world around us.  Paradigm shifts occur with new knowledge.

14.  C - Claim: Make sure you clearly understand what is being proposed.  R - Role of the claimant: Who is making the claim and is there something in it for them? What biases can you identify?  I - Information backing the claim? What evidence is offered in support of the claim. Is it anecdotal or objective/verifiable? T - Test: How might we design an adequate test to verify the claim?  I - Independent Testing: Has any unbiased source carried out an independent test of the claim? Are the results published in a reliable journal?  C - Causality - What is held out of the explanation of the claim and is it consistent with the physical laws of the universe?  Use the website www.theoryofknowledge.net – Go To Natural Science Real Life Situation Tab and Choose 4 articles to use for CRITIC  Remember to WRITE TITLE OF ARTICLE on assignment!!!!!