Learning about junk science

by Yacob, Seyenie.

Society puts a lot of faith in technology and theories presented by scientific research. Unfortunately many scientific claims being made today are not based on sound scientific principles. They are a result of junk science. Some motivation factors behind junk science are the media, political influences, legal and social issues, economic pursuits, the experimental procedure itself, peer review, and the lack of science education of the public. One reason why the public so readily accepts information based on insubstantial scientific principles is due to the major decline of our science educational programs. The objective of my thesis project was to create a web page for use as a teaching tool for high school science classes. Through the process of researching and investigation existing cases dealing with junk science, the goal is to promote thought and encourage students to question scientific claims and theories. As educated and conscientious citizens equipped with the ability to process relevant information, we as a public will be able to better process scientific information and be less tolerant of junk science and its implications on society. 3