Pseudoscience 3353

Arming yourself against ‘fake news’ and figuring out the best way to challenge misinformation.

Arming yourself against ‘fake news’ and figuring out the best way to challenge misinformation.

Scared of math & stats? No problem! 10 tricks for to spotting dodgy claims involving numbers and graphs (for the non-stats person). Fancy packaging to hide false claims. Listening to your intuition when things aren’t adding up. Digging deeper with Prof. Google.

Scared of math & stats? No problem! 10 tricks for to spotting dodgy claims involving numbers and graphs (for the non-stats person). Fancy packaging to hide false claims. Listening to your intuition when things aren’t adding up. Digging deeper with Prof. Google.

Understanding and evaluating expertise. How to become a media expert. Why people distrust experts. When experts do get it wrong.

Understanding and evaluating expertise. How to become a media expert. Why people distrust experts. When experts do get it wrong.

Where do most people get their information from? Evaluating information sources. Why we need to be critical consumers. The TRAAP method. “Fake News”.

Where do most people get their information from? Evaluating information sources. Why we need to be critical consumers. The TRAAP method. “Fake News”.

What about the role of governments in hyping fears or engaging in denialism? What is propaganda. How is propaganda different from other forms of misinformation? Propaganda techniques. The role of states and influential non-state actors in creating propaganda. Examples of state actors putting out pseudoscientific misinformation.

What about the role of governments in hyping fears or engaging in denialism? What is propaganda. How is propaganda different from other forms of misinformation? Propaganda techniques. The role of states and influential non-state actors in creating propaganda. Examples of state actors putting out pseudoscientific misinformation.

The role of social networks in reinforcing beliefs. How ideas go viral. Social media manipulation (buying ads, followers). Twitter and Facebook vs. Reality. TikTok and Instagram as the newest markets for shaping behaviours and preferences. The Benadryl Challenge. The Coronavirus Challenge.

The role of social networks in reinforcing beliefs. How ideas go viral. Social media manipulation (buying ads, followers). Twitter and Facebook vs. Reality. TikTok and Instagram as the newest markets for shaping behaviours and preferences. The Benadryl Challenge. The Coronavirus Challenge.

Celebrities as role models. The role of social influencers in shaping consumer and other behaviors. Health and beauty advice and products from  celebrities and influencers. Healing vibrations, detoxes and other woo hoo.

Celebrities as role models. The role of social influencers in shaping consumer and other behaviors. Health and beauty advice and products from  celebrities and influencers. Healing vibrations, detoxes and other woo hoo.

Common errors in reason, logic and decision making. The role of peer pressure and group think. In-group/Out-group, identity and beliefs. How gender, race, age, sexual identity and other factors combine to increase or decrease willingness to hear different points of view.

Common errors in reason, logic and decision making. The role of peer pressure and group think. In-group/Out-group, identity and beliefs. How gender, race, age, sexual identity and other factors combine to increase or decrease willingness to hear different points of view.

we look at anger, fear, uncertainty and other emotions in decision making. Magical thinking. Vaccine theories and conspiracies.

we look at anger, fear, uncertainty and other emotions in decision making. Magical thinking. Vaccine theories and conspiracies.

A look at the types of beliefs people have held over the centuries. The socio-cultural reasons for why certain ideas appear at a given time. Magical elixirs, diet fads, conspiracy theories and astrology.

A look at the types of beliefs people have held over the centuries. The socio-cultural reasons for why certain ideas appear at a given time. Magical elixirs, diet fads, conspiracy theories and astrology.

What is evidence? Evidence versus data. Evaluating claims made with different types of evidence, including anecdotes. Assessing claims using the same evidence. The great bacon debate.

What is evidence? Evidence versus data. Evaluating claims made with different types of evidence, including anecdotes. Assessing claims using the same evidence. The great bacon debate.

What is science? How is science different from other forms of knowledge? Why should we trust science when scientists don’t even agree? Let’s look at this through climate change and other issues.

What is science? How is science different from other forms of knowledge? Why should we trust science when scientists don’t even seem to agree? Let's look at this through Climate Change and other issues.