GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education
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This module examines how scientists apply critical reasoning skills and a standard experimental procedure to solve various theoretical and practical problems. Specifically, three general issues are addressed, namely, (1) Why do we need to think like a scientist, (2) How to think like a scientist, and (3) What is the development of scientific reasoning. Topics such as astrology, parapsychology, extrasensory perception (ESP), creationism versus evolutionary theory, alternative medication, and progress of science are covered to help students develop, apply, and consolidate their scientific reasoning skills. The humanistic and social impacts of the modern scientific reasoning will also be examined.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. identify sources of knowledge and how they are subject to various perceptual and cognitive biases.
b. familiarize with the operation of scientific method and the criteria of adequacy that distinguish between science and pseudoscience.
c. apply scientific reasoning in analyzing normal and paranormal physical or psychological issues in our daily lives to evaluate their humanistic and social impacts.
d. examine some of the most important conceptions (e.g. falsification and paradigm shift) during the development of modern scientific methodology
1. What is knowledge?
1.1 Justified true belief
1.2 Good reason and bad reason
1.3 Scientific knowledge and non-scientific knowledge
2. Why do we need to think like a scientist?
2.1 Bias on perceptions
2.2 Bias on memories
2.3 Bias on cognitive intuition
2.4 Bias on logical reasoning
3. How to think like a scientist?
3.1 Hypotheses formulation and verification
3.2 Explanation: deduction and induction
3.3 Prediction
3.4 Scientific control
3.4.1 Randomization
3.4.2 Double-blinded test
3.4.3 Placebo effect
3.4.4 Ceteris paribus
3.5 The humanistic and social impacts of scientific reasoning
4. What is the difference between science and pseudoscience?
4.1 Testability
4.2 Fruitfulness
4.3 Scope
4.4 Simplicity
4.5 Conservation
5. Case study
5.1 Astrology
5.2 Extrasensory perception (ESP)
5.3 Déjà vu
5.4 Miracle cure
5.5 Near death experience (NDE)
6. Development of scientific methodology
6.1 Hempel: D-N model and verification
6.2 Popper: falsification
6.3 Kuhn: scientific revolution and paradigm shift
6.4 Lakatos: research program
1. Class participation (10%)
2. Short Reflective Papers (30%)
3. Mid-term Test (30%)
4. Group project (oral presentation and written report) (30%)
