Every day, there’s a new scientific or health controversy. And every day, it
seems as if there’s a new study that contradicts what you heard yesterday. What’s
really going on? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s faking it? What do scientists actually
know—and what don’t they know? This book will help you cut through the confusion and
make sense of it all—even if you’ve never taken a science class! Leading science
educator and journalist Dr. Sherry Seethaler reveals how science and health research
really work...how to put scientific claims in context and understand the real tradeoffs
involved...tell quality research from junk science...discover when someone’s
deliberately trying to fool you...and find more information you can trust! Nobody
knows what new controversy will erupt tomorrow. But one thing’s for certain: With this
book, you’ll know how to figure out the real deal—and make smarter decisions for
yourself and your family!
Watch the news, and you’ll be overwhelmed by snippets of badly presented science:
information that’s incomplete, confusing, contradictory, out-of-context, wrong, or
flat-out dishonest. Defend yourself! Dr. Sherry Seethaler gives you a powerful arsenal of
tools for making sense of science. You’ll learn how to think more sensibly about
everything from mad cow disease to global warming–and how to make better science-related
decisions in both your personal life and as a citizen.
You’ll begin by understanding how science really works and progresses, and why
scientists sometimes disagree. Seethaler helps you assess the possible biases of those who
make scientific claims in the media, and place scientific issues in appropriate context,
so you can intelligently assess tradeoffs. You’ll learn how to determine whether a new
study is really meaningful; uncover the difference between cause and coincidence; figure
out which statistics mean something, and which don’t.
Seethaler reveals the tricks self-interested players use to mislead and confuse you,
and points you to sources of information you can actually rely upon. Her many examples
range from genetic engineering of crops to drug treatments for depression...but the
techniques she teaches you will be invaluable in understanding any scientific controversy,
in any area of science or health.
^ Potions, plots, and personalities: How science progresses, and why
scientists sometimes disagree
^ Is it “cause” or merely coincidence? How to tell compelling
evidence from a “good story”
^ There are always tradeoffs: How to put science and health claims in
context, and understand their real implications
^ All the tricks experts use to fool you, exposed! How to recognize lies,
“truthiness,” or pseudo-expertise
Sherry Seethaler, a science writer and educator at the University of
California, San Diego, works with scientists to explain their discoveries to the public.
She also writes a column for the San Diego Union-Tribune answering readers’ questions
about science. Seethaler holds an M.S. and Master of Philosophy in biology from Yale, and
a Ph.D. in science and math education from UC Berkele
Table of Contents
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
224 pages, Hardcover