Chapter 3 - Science, Pseudoscience, & the Law

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

The systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

Question 2

Pseudoscience

Answer 2

• A discipline or approach that pretends to be or has a close resemblance to science.
• It cannot be tested.
• Relies on trust while science relies on experimental validation and evidence.

Question 3

Evidence

Answer 3

Information that can and should influence the beliefs of an observer about a specific legal question.

Question 4

The Scientific Method

Answer 4

1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Prediction
4. Experimentation
5. Analysis and refinement or abandonment of hypothesis

Question 5

Pseudoscience Characteristics

Answer 5

• Exaggerated/untestable claims.
• Based upon hearsay.
• Reluctance towards experimentation.
• Reliance upon confirmatory experiments rather than open testing.
• Random disregard of some facts/data.
• Tries to fill voids of scientific understanding.
• Use of new terminology.
• Does not lead to new discoveries/knowledge.

Question 6

Is religion psuedoscience?

Answer 6

• Differences between religion and science: Science is objective. It is derived from facts and logic.
• Religion is subjective since it is derived from beliefs that are not backed by any proof.

Question 7

Examples of Psueudosciences

Answer 7

• Crop circles
• Alien landings
• Flat Earth Society

Question 8

Confirmatory Test

Answer 8

An experiment designed to simply support the tenants of the original hypothesis or idea itself rather than to be broad-based inquiry in scope.

Question 9

Distribution (statistical)

Answer 9

The way in which the data points spread out over all possible values.

Question 10

Error Bars

Answer 10

A line through a data point on a plot indicating the standard deviation for each data point.

Question 11

Ethics

Answer 11

A part of philosophy that deals with questions that surround our understanding of right and wrong and helps us make the “right” decisions.

Question 12

Event

Answer 12

• One actual particular outcome, often from among several or many choices, from an experiment.
• Example: rolling a 4 on a die.

Question 13

Flasifiability

Answer 13

The possibility that a hypothesis can be shown to be false by reproducible observation/experiment.

Question 14

Frequency

Answer 14

The number of times that a particular value/event shows up in an experiment.

Question 15

Hypothesis

Answer 15

A statement or explanation made on the basis of the limited data available that serves as a starting point for further investigation.

Question 16

Likelihood Ratio (LR)

Answer 16

The ratio between the probability of two hypotheses being correct.

Question 17

Mean

Answer 17

The average.

Question 18

Median

Answer 18

• The halfway point in the data.
• Half the data have lesser values and half have more than the median.

Question 19

Outcome

Answer 19

One possible result from an experiment.

Question 20

Probability

Answer 20

• The field that deals with representing the likelihood that a particular event or set of events will occur given a set of reference data.
• Based on what’s in the pail, what’s in your hand?”

Question 21

Q-Test (Dixon’s)

Answer 21

A rough test to justify ejecting an outlying data point from a set.

Question 22

Range

Answer 22

The difference between the lowest and highest value in a data set.

Question 23

Standard Deviation

Answer 23

A numeric value that gives an indication of the breadth and the distribution of data in a set.

Question 24

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Answer 24

A set of rules/procedures for performing an analysis/experiment that conforms to a standard that is widely accepted as best-practice in the field.

Question 25

Statistics

Answer 25

• The field that focuses upon the collection, handling, validation, and interpretation of data.
• “Based on what’s in your hand, what’s in the pail?”

Question 26

Theory

Answer 26

• An explanation that has been generally accepted by a large number of scientists as valid.
• Is supported by a large amount of experimental data.