Sea Grant is a science-based service organization dedicated to drawing accurate conclusions through the scientific method. The scientific method has been used since the 17th century and is taught to children as early as elementary school. The scientific method is a multi-step process involving:
- Making observations about some phenomenon.
- Formulating question(s) based on the observations.
- Reviewing existing science literature to determine if others have conducted research on similar questions.
- Developing a testable hypothesis or multiple hypotheses to address the question(s).
- Designing and implementing an experiment to test the hypothesis/hypotheses.
- Analyzing the result of the experiment to determine if the hypothesis/hypotheses are true or false.
- Developing conclusions based on the analysis of the data from the experiment.
- Communicating the results of the experiment to scientists and non-scientists in clear and easily understandable language.
The eight steps are simplified; however, they cover the most important parts of the scientific method. The scientific method must be verified to confirm if the results from one experiment can be repeated by a different group of scientists. For example, using a toxicological method called Lethal Dose 50 (LD-50), which is the concentration of something such as sediment required to kill half of the sample over a 14-day period.
This method is good for chemicals such as pesticides. However, it is not a good method for determining how lethal sediment is on oysters over long-term exposure when the sediment may not directly kill the oysters, but chronic exposure could slow their growth or affect their reproductive capacity. Additional monitoring and more appropriate methods would be required to draw science-based conclusions about long-term exposure to sediments.
While the scientific method provides a systematic approach to understanding, not all claims that appear scientific are based on rigorous methods. One thing is certain: science properly uses the scientific method, whereas pseudoscience does not.
Pseudoscience lacks rigor
Science uses a systematic approach to understanding a phenomenon. Pseudoscience, on the other hand, may appear to be science, but lacks the rigors of the scientific method. A few characteristics of pseudoscience include untestable claims, overreliance on anecdotal evidence, misleading language and confirmation bias.
What Is confirmation bias?
It is important to understand confirmation bias. It is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs. An example of confirmation bias could be believing there is no fish on a reef simply because you did not catch anything that day (I have been guilty of that).
Over my 35-year career, I've witnessed numerous attempts to replace science with pseudoscience on key issues such as methyl mercury in seafood, seafood safety during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and, most recently, thin layer (6-12 inches) placement of sediment in Mobile Bay and its sub-watersheds to restore important habitats and mitigate the impacts of storms on shoreline erosion. It has become very easy for people to see turbid water and draw conclusions using only anecdotal evidence and confirmation bias.
Seeing firsthand how pseudoscience can undermine informed decision-making drives home the importance of sticking to rigorous, scientifically backed methods.
Meet the author
LaDon Swann, Ph.D.
National Sea Grant Aquaculture Liaison
LaDon Swann serves as the national Sea Grant aquaculture liaison and works to strengthen the Sea Grant aquaculture portfolio. He is the former director of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and also... Read more
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