Description |
xxiv, 198 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Summary |
The author supplies information and tools for critical thinking about scientific claims and studies. |
Contents |
Potions, plots, personalities: understand how science progresses and why scientists sometimes disagree : "The scientific method": not as easy as pi ; What's all this talk about controversy? ; From watering hole to prime time: birth and development of an idea -- Who's who?: identify those who hold stake in an issue and what their positions are : People, positions, purposes -- Decisions, decisions: elucidate all the pros and cons of a decision : From black and white to vibrant technicolor ; Say "yes" to one and leave the other behind -- Compare and contrast: place alternatives in an appropriate context to evaluate tradeoffs : Context connections ; Putting it all together -- What happens if ...?: distinguish between cause and coincidence : Cause and effect: finding the culprit -- Specific or general: recognize how broadly the conclusions from a study may be applied : Individuals ; Locale ; Conditions ; Time -- Fun figures: see through the number jumble : Elucidate hidden confounding factors ; Determine whether the numbers are statistically significant ; Determine whether the numbers are statistically meaningful ; Make sure the statistics apply to the situation ; Watch out for selection bias ; Ask whether a statistical change reflects reality or thee way the data were collected ; Putting it all together -- Society's say: discern the relationships between science and policy : Morals and money: influences on the progress of science ; From scientific results to policy decisions: more morals and money -- All the tricks in the book: get past the ploys designed to simply bypass logic : Quirks of logic ; Hearts and guts -- Fitting the pieces together: know how to seek information to gain a balanced perspective : Peeling back the layers ; Information sleuthing -- Conclusions: Twenty essential applications of the tools. |
Subject |
Communication in science.
|
|
Communication in science. |
|
Science news -- Evaluation.
|
|
Science news. |
|
Evaluation. |
|
Research -- Evaluation.
|
|
Research -- Evaluation. |
|
Information resources -- Reviews.
|
|
Information resources. |
Genre/Form |
Reviews.
|
Subject |
Critical thinking -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
|
|
Critical thinking. |
Genre/Form |
Handbooks and manuals.
|
|
Reviews.
|
|
Handbooks and manuals.
|
ISBN |
9780137155224 alkaline paper |
|
0137155220 alkaline paper |
|