A Critical Choice ■ 35measles. Sixteen of them were unvaccinated. In
2014, measles cases in the United States hit a
20-year high, with 667 reported cases. And in
the 2013–14 flu season, 90 percent of the 100
American children who died of complications
from the flu had not received the flu vaccine.
Decisions based on scientific claims have seri-
ous consequences.
To d ay, E a t o n i s t h a n k f u l t h a t a l l o f h e r c h i l-
dren are fully vaccinated (Figure 2.12). She
encourages her friends, relatives, and colleagues
to foster scientific literacy and use their criti-
cal-thinking skills to distinguish science from
pseudoscience. Not everyone will want to read
a vaccine textbook, Eaton admits with a laugh,
but anyone can think critically and follow the
process of evaluating scientific claims.
Figure 2.12
Anna Eaton and
her children
Although Eaton initially
had concerns about
vaccinations for her
first child, Caroline,
her research gave
her confidence that
vaccines are a safe
and responsible choice.
Caroline and her
younger brothers are
now all up-to-date on
their vaccinations.● (^) A scientific claim is a statement about how the world
works that can be tested using the scientific method.
To evaluate scientific claims, it is important to look at
the credentials and bias of those making the claim.
● (^) Scientific literacy requires a basic understanding of
scientific facts and theories, and of the process of
science. It is important to be scientifically literate in
order to make well-informed life decisions.
● (^) Scientific claims can be found in advertising, in
social media, in the popular press, and in scientific
publications. The best source for a review or
overview of a scientific topic is the secondary
literature, including the popular press, reputable
websites, or review articles in scientific journals.
● (^) The actual experimental or observational results
related to a scientific claim are found in the primary
REVIEWING THE SCIENCE
literature, articles published in scientific journals
that have undergone peer review.
● (^) With correlation, two or more aspects of the natural
world behave in an interrelated manner. With
causation, a change in one aspect causes a change
in another.
● (^) Basic research explores questions about the
natural world and expands the fundamental
knowledge base of science. Applied research
seeks to use the knowledge gained from basic
research to address human issues and concerns.
It may involve developing commercial applications.
● (^) Pseudoscience is characterized by scientific-
sounding statements, beliefs, or practices that do
not meet the standards of the scientific method.
THE QUESTIONS
The Basics
(^1) Which of the following should receive the least
consideration when evaluating a scientific claim?
(a) the scientific credentials of the person making
the claim
(b) your personal beliefs and values
(c) whether the study supporting the claim has been
published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal
(d) whether the study supporting the claim meets the
standards of the scientific method
(e) any possible biases of the person making
the claim
(^2) Scientific literacy means that you
(a) are able to easily read and understand a scientific
journal article.
(b) have taken a university-level science course.
(c) understand the process of science and basic
scientific facts and theories.
(d) enjoy reading current science news in
newspapers and blogs.
(e) are a good critical thinker.
(^3) “Correlation does not prove causation” means that
(a) if two variables are correlated, one is likely to
have caused the other.
“Look to see what has credible backing and
what doesn’t. This issue transcends vaccines,”
says Eaton. “We should all have the tools to
become scientifically literate citizens.”