The Fake NewsPseudoscience Connection Teaching About Fake New
The Fake News-Pseudoscience Connection Teaching About Fake New: Lesson Plans for Different Disciplines and Audiences
The Fake News-Pseudoscience Connection • • Fake News Pervades Media Pseudoscience Receives Less Attention Sensationalize Science/Health News Veneer of Scientific Respectability Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Pseudoscience is Complex • • Capitalize on Scientific Legitimacy Exploit Skepticism of Science Military/Industrial Ties Suspect Seek Natural Environmental Alternatives Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Fake News and Pseudoscience Share History • • Yellow Journalism’s sensational headlines Maximize sales minimize research Early Pseudoscience miracle cures Hawk remedies, potions, elixirs Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Pseudoscience Adapted to Changing Technology • • Pseudoscience moved to radio Touted cures over airwaves Television threatened radio Radio began outlandish programming Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Fake Science Moves to the Web • • Growth of web audience Pseudoscience stories/sites mushroom Web design becomes easier Pseudoscience indistinguishable from science Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Fake News, Pseudoscience and Conspiracy Theories • • Scientists elitist, untrustworthy, unintelligible Alleged business/governmental connections Prioritize profits over people Mainstream media’s corporate bias Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Psychological Aspects of Pseudoscience • • Users feel in control Alternatives feel empowering Placebos have real effects Motivated inference biases beliefs Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
The Importance of Specificity, Peer Review, Methodology • • Pseudoscience generalities lack specifics Publications without peer review Methodology weak or non-existent Evidence sketchy and unmeasurable Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Citations Practices, Funding, and Credentials Are Significant • • Pseudoscience scholarship generally poor Citations few or obscure Funding biased or lacking Author credentials unrelated/questionable Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
Evidence and Language Matter • Pseudoscience ignores experimentation/observation • Uses stories and anecdotes • Symbols, metaphors, analogies, associations • Polysyllabic scientific-sounding neologisms Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
The Vital Role of Thinking and Intention • • Genuine science complex and counterintuitive Pseudoscience thinking magical/anachronistic Aimed at general audience Commercial intent underlies motivation Search the ACRL Sandbox for more lessons with #fakenews
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