Lies, Damned Lies, and Science: How to Sort Through the Noise Around Global Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other Scientific Controversies

225 Pages·2009·1.114 MB·English

by  Sherry Seethaler

Praise for
Lies, Damned Lies, and Science
“Comprehensive, readable, and replete with current, useful examples, this book
provides a much-needed explanation of how to be a critical consumer of the
scientific claims we encounter in our everyday lives.”
—April Cordero Maskiewicz, Department of Biology,
Point Loma Nazarene University
“This book treats a topic that is very important to any citizen: How to sort through
the maze of information and interpretations that are put forward in the name of
science. One of the most important institutions in society, science is often
misunderstood and manipulated. Seethaler’s book helps the reader look inside the
workings of science and gain a deeper understanding of the pathway that is followed
by a scientific finding—from its beginnings in a research lab to its appearance on
the nightly news.”
—Jim Slotta, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,
University of Toronto
“How I wish science was taught this way! Seethaler builds skills for critical thinking
and evaluation. The book is rich with examples that not only illustrate her points
beautifully; they also make it very interesting and fun to read.”
—Julia R. Brown, Director, Targacept, Inc.
“Using accessible and engaging examples, Dr. Seethaler presents a clear framework
for making sense of the science information we often receive incompletely through
the popular media. This book is an important contribution toward the better
understanding of and use of scientific knowledge in making decisions that impact
our lives and our society.”
—Stephanie Sisk-Hilton, Department of Elementary Education,
San Francisco State University
“As Sherry Seethaler says herself, the book gives you tools to understand science,
and she delivers them with simplicity, clarity, and wit. Seethaler helps us all
decipher the Rosetta stones of modern science.”
—Raymond Hardie, author of AbyssosandFleet
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Lies, Damned Lies,
and Science
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Lies, Damned Lies,
and Science
How to Sort through the Noise around Global
Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other
Scientific Controversies
Sherry Seethaler
Vice President, Publisher: Tim Moore
Associate Publisher and Director of Marketing: Amy Neidlinger
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©2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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Printed in the United States of America
First Printing January 2009
ISBN-10: 0-13-715522-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-715522-4
Pearson Education LTD.
Pearson Education Australia PTY, Limited.
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_____________________________________________________________________________
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Seethaler, Sherry, 1970-
Lies, damned lies, and science : how to sort through the noise around global warming, the
latest health claims, and other scientific controversies / Sherry Seethaler. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-13-715522-0 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Communication in science. 2. Information
resources—Reviews. 3. Global warming. I. Title.
Q223.S33 2008
500—dc22
2008032002
For Barbara, who is amazing and wise
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Contents at a Glance
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xvii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xix
Chapter 1: Potions,Plot,Personalities: Understand How
Science Progresses and Why Scientists
Sometimes Disagree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter 2: Who’s Who?: Identify Those Who Hold Stake in
an Issue and What Their Positions Are . . . . . . . .29
Chapter 3: Decisions,Decisions: Elucidate All the Pros and
Cons of a Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Chapter 4: Compare and Contrast: Place Alternatives in an
Appropriate Context to Evaluate Tradeoffs . . . . . .59
Chapter 5: What Happens If…?: Distinguish Between
Cause and Coincidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Chapter 6: Specific or General: Recognize How Broadly the
Conclusions from a Study May Be Applied . . . . .89
Chapter 7: Fun Figures: See Through the Number Jumble . . .99
Chapter 8: Society’s Say: Discern the Relationships
Between Science and Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Chapter 9: All the Tricks in the Book: Get Past the Ploys
Designed to Simply Bypass Logic . . . . . . . . . . .139
Chapter 10:Fitting The Pieces Together: Know How to Seek
Information to Gain a Balanced Perspective . . .161
Conclusions: Twenty Essential Applications of the Tools . . .177
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185