Critical Thinking in Canada Steve Charlton Douglas College Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Teaching of Psychology in Canada Psychological Literacy in Canada Courses on Critical Thinking

SOME AREAS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PSEUDOSCIENCE Witchcraft Astrology Homeopathy Magnetic Therapy Touch Therapy Colonic Therapy Learning Styles Alien Abductions Subliminal Tapes Urine Therapy Scientology

Organization of the course Types of pseudoscience Sources of knowledge Cognitive/Perceptual limitations History of pseudoscience Characteristics of pseudoscience

Fourteen Characteristics of Pseudoscience Fourteen Characteristics of Pseudoscience 1) Outward Appearance of Science 2) Absence of Skeptical Review 3) Reliance on Personal Experience

4) Evasion of Risky Tests 5) Retreats to the Supernatural 6) Holism 7) Tolerance of Inconsistencies

8) Appeals to Authority 9) Promising the Impossible 10) Stagnation 11) Credentials

12) References 13) Correlations, Causation and Third Variables

Northwest Tree Octopus and the House Hippo

Internet Project Use the list of characteristics of pseudoscience to evaluate the Tree Octopus website Find a website on the internet that you would consider possible pseudoscience Discuss why your website qualifies as pseudoscience using the list of characteristics of pseudoscience as a guideline

Additional Internet Project if you have time! Have the student design their own pseudoscience website using the same principles