Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Science vs. Pseudoscience

Source:

*Phillips, Gary W., PhD. “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators from Comparing States and Nations.” American Institutes for Research. 14 Nov 2007. American Institutes for Research. 18 Nov 2007 http://www.air.org/publications/documents/phillips.chance.favors.the.prepared.mind.pdf.

From David Warlick's blog 2¢ Worth:

According to the National Science Foundation (NSF, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics), the average U.S. citizen understands very little science. For example:

- 66% do not understand DNA, “margin of error,” the scientific process, and do not believe in evolution.
- 50% do not know how long it takes the earth to go around the sun, and a quarter does not even know that the earth goes around the sun.
- 50% think humans coexisted with dinosaurs and believe antibiotics kill viruses.

On the other hand, according to the NSF, the general public believes in a lot of pseudoscience.

- 88% believe in alternative medicine.
- 50% believe in extrasensory perception and faith healing.
- 40% believe in haunted houses and demonic possession.
- 33% believes in lucky numbers, ghosts, telepathy, clairvoyance, astrology, and that UFOs are aliens from space.
- 25% believes in witches and that we can communicate with the dead. *

2 comments:

Spyder said...

"25% believes in witches and that we can communicate with the dead."

I've met witches & I talk to the dead.

Xavier Onassis said...

Those statistics certainly help explain our current administration. No critical thought processes at all. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch.