Abstract
The study of pseudoscience and the paranormal is an important but neglected aspect of science education. Given the widespread acceptance of pseudoscientific and paranormal beliefs, science educators need to take seriously the problem of how these can be combated. I propose teaching science students to critically evaluate the claims of pseudoscience and the paranormal, something that can be accomplished in a variety of ways.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adelman, A.S. and Adelman, S.J.: 1984, ‘Pseudoscientific Beliefs of Sixth-Grade Students in the Charleston, S.C. Area’, The Skeptical Inquirer 9, 71–74.
Bainbridge, W.S. and Stark, R.: 1981, ‘Superstitions: Old and New’, in K. Frazier (ed.), Paranormal Borderlands of Science, Prometheus Press, Buffalo, NY 46–59.
Bainbridge, W.S.: 1979, Fall, ‘In Search of Delusion: Television Pseudodocumentaries’, The Skeptical Inquirer 4, 33–39.
Baumel, H. and Berger, J.J.: 1969, ‘Teaching from Research Papers: An Approach to Teaching Science as Process’, in Hans O. Anderson (ed.), Readings in Science Education for Secondary Schools, The Macmillan Co. NY., pp. 205–207.
Braude, S.E.: 1979, ESP and Psychokinesis: A Philosophical Examination, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, PA.
Crelin, E.S.: 1985, ‘Chiropractic’, in D. Stalker and C. Glymour (eds.), Examining Holistic Medicine. Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY., pp. 197–220.
Culver, R.B. and Ianna, P.A.: 1984, The Gemini Syndrome: A Scientific Evaluation of Astrology, Prometheus Press, Buffalo, NY.
Eve, R.A. and Dunn, D.: 1989, ‘High School Biology Teachers and Pseudoscientific Beliefs: Passing It On?’, The Skeptical Inquirer 13, 260–263.
Frazier, K.: 1983, ‘Promoting the Paranormal’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 5–8.
Futuyama, D.J.: 1983, Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution, Pantheon Books, New York, NY.
Ganoe, W.H. and Kirwan, J.D.: 1984, ‘NOVA's Descent into the Paranormal’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 373–376.
Gardner, M.: 1957, Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, Dover Publications, Inc. NY.
Gray, T.: 1984, ‘University Course Reduces Belief in the Paranormal’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 247–251.
Greeley, A: 1987, ‘Mysticism Goes Mainstream’, American Health 47–49.
Harrold, F.B. and Eve, R.A.: 1986, ‘Noah's Ark and Ancient Astronauts: Pseudoscientific Beliefs About the Past Among a Sample of College Students’, The Skeptical Inquirer 11, 61–76.
Hines, T.: 1988, Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY.
Kitcher, P.: 1982, Abusing Science: The Case Against Creationism, The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Klopfer, L.: 1969, ‘The Use of Case Histories in Science Teaching’, in Hans O. Anderson (ed.), Readings in Science Education for Secondary Schools, The Mcmillan Co. NY., pp. 226–233.
Kurtz, P.: 1985, ‘The Responsibility of the Media and Paranormal Claims’, The Skeptical Inquirer 9, 357–362.
Kusche, L.: 1975, The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved, Harper and Row, NY
Larner, J.: 1985–86, ‘ABC's Eye on Hollywood: Fuzy Focus on Paranormal’, The Skeptical Inquirer 10, 110–111.
Laurie, R. and Godfrey, L.R.: 1979, ‘Science and Evolution in the Public Eye’, The Skeptical Inquirer 4, 21–32.
Martin, M.: 1972, Concepts of Science Education: A Philosophical Analysis, Scott, Foresman, and Co., Chicago, IL.
Martin, M.: 1983–84, ‘A New Controlled Dowsing Experiment’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 138–140.
Moore, J.: 1983, ‘Why Are There Creationists?’, Journal of Geological Education 31, 95–104.
Osberg, J.E. and Scheaffer, R.: 1977, ‘Pseudoscience at Science Digest’, The Skeptical Inquirer 2, 41–45.
Randi, J.: 1987, The Faith Healers, Prometheus Press, Buffalo, NY.
Schadewald, R.: 1983, ‘Creationist Pseudoscience’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 22–35.
Schwab, J.: 1964, ‘Structure of the Disciplines: Meaning and Significance’, in G.W. Ford and L. Pugno (eds.), The Structure of Knowledge and the Curriculum, Rand McNally and Co., Chicago, IL., pp. 1–30.
Schwab, J.: 1964, ‘The Teaching of Science as Enquiry’, in Teaching of Science, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, pp. 73–79.
Stalker, D. and Glymour, C.: 1985, Examining Holistic Medicine. Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY.
Thagard, P.R.: 1980, ‘Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience’, in E.D. Klemke, R. Hollinger, and A.D. Kline (eds.), Introductory Readings in the Philosophy of Science, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY, pp. 66–73.
Tobacyk, J.J.: 1983, ‘Reduction in Paranormal Belief Among Participants in a College Course’, The Skeptical Inquirer 8, 57–61.
Woods, P.J.: 1984, ‘Evidence for the Effectiveness of a Reading Program in Changing Beliefs in the Paranormal’, The Skeptical Inquirer 9, 67–70.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martin, M. Pseudoscience, the paranormal, and science education. Sci Educ 3, 357–371 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00488452
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00488452