Scientific Claim Assessment Overview

To-Do Date: Apr 21 at 2:00pm

Scientific Claims Assessment1

(Adapted from Project-based Applied Learning by Margaret Brickman, University of Georgia)

One of the most critical skills for surviving in the modern world is the ability to assess and evaluate a scientific claim. You are bombarded with advertising, political arguments and public relations messages. There are products that claim that you will lose weight, be beautiful and stay young forever. Some of them are bunk, but some of the products might actually help (sunblock really does reduce the amount of wrinkles and postpone the age at which you get them).  How to differentiate? How to discern the difference?

You are going to learn the basics of assessing a scientific claim by examining a specific claim. In groups, you will then investigate a specific claim and create a communication tool for the general public

Goals:

Part I: Learn how to assess scientific claims.

Part II: Apply that information to specific claim.

Part III. Practice your scientific communication by disseminating information about this claim. 

 

Part I. Learn how to assess claim - In lab the Week of April 19th. - Individual Assignments 

You will need to complete the following assignments and quizzes in the order in which they are listed. The quizzes are set up to guide  you through the material and information. In addition you will have 3 attempts at each quiz.  We will go over the material in lab and use it to help with the assignments in Part II. 

 

 

 

Here is the Powerpoint Download Powerpoint from lab and the handout  Download he handout 

Part II. Your Scientific Claim Assessment- Group Assignments 

  • Each of these assignments will build on the previous assignment. You will use this Google Document as a template and with each subsequent assignment, you will add more information until you have completed the project
  • This project will be done in groups of 2 or 3 students.   You will create your groups and then only need to turn in one copy of each assignment.
  • Assignment: Find and state the claim

Part III. Scientific Communication - Group  Assignment

 Each group will need to communicate with members of the public about your scientific claim.  There are a  number of different options and you only need to pick one of these  methods. If there is another method that you would like to propose, please speak with me . 

  • Goal:  Share this information with members of the public
  • Identify the specific target audience
  • Potential methods of disseminating: