Introduction to Science Concepts and Pseudoscience

Course Overview and Announcements

• Reading assignment focuses on understanding pseudoscience.
• Quiz 1 preparation emphasizes foundational knowledge of science.
• Quizzes and exams are administered on paper this semester.

Textbook and Bookstore Information

• Scholarship vouchers must be used in-person at the bookstore by September 14th.
• Students paying out of pocket are advised to wait for further notifications regarding book availability.

Key Concepts Overview: CONPTTF

• CONPTTF stands for Consistent, Objective, Natural, Predictable, Testable, Tentative, Falsifiable.
• These elements define the characteristics of scientific inquiry.

Observation vs Fact

• Observations involve careful data collection and interpretation; they may include subjective interpretations.
• Facts are observations confirmed repeatedly and accepted as true within scientific contexts.

Scientific Theories

• The term "theory" in science implies a well-supported explanation of natural phenomena, enabling predictions.
• Significant theories include:
  • Cell Theory: All organisms consist of cells.
  • Germ Theory: Microscopic organisms are responsible for diseases.
  • Collision Theory: Chemical reactions occur upon sufficient molecular collision energy.
  • Atomic Theory: Matter is made of discrete atoms.

Scientific Laws

• Laws describe consistent relationships among observable phenomena; they represent the "big WHAT."
• Examples include:
  • Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT, relating pressure, volume, and temperature of gases.
  • Newton's Laws of Motion: Define the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, including the action-reaction principle.

Differentiation of Concepts

• Observation: Single events recognized as facts.
• Fact: Confirmed observations that lead to the formation of laws.
• Law: Describes how nature behaves under certain conditions.
• Hypothesis: Preliminary explanation subject to testing.
• Theory: Comprehensive explanations, answering "why" phenomena occur.

Limitations of Science

• Identifies common human errors that affect scientific understanding, including:
  • Cognitive Dissonance: Conflict between beliefs and actions.
  • Confirmation Bias: Favoring information that validates existing beliefs.
  • Dunning-Kruger Effect: Overestimation of one’s knowledge and competence in specific domains.

Pseudoscience

• Pseudoscience encompasses claims that misrepresent themselves as scientifically valid but lack compatibility with the scientific method.
• Key distinction is that pseudoscientific claims are not falsifiable.

This quiz covers fundamental aspects of scientific inquiry and the key characteristics defined by CONPTTF. It also explores the differences between observations and facts, along with an understanding of scientific theories. Prepare to enhance your foundational knowledge of science as you delve into pseudoscience concepts.