Identify the Pillars of Science
Critical thinking isn’t a scientific discipline like mathematics, linguistics, or sociology. However, it can use scientific methods to reduce the risk of making a mistake, which we’ll look at in this chapter.
These four points often characterize science:
Scientists: those who participate in scientific research, produce knowledge by analyzing the raw results, and publish articles. This group could include some experts who appear in the media. They aren’t researchers but represent a source of potentially reliable information on a particular subject.
The sum of human knowledge: this knowledge is considered fact and explains how the world works. While not necessarily the truth, it aims to get closer. All scientific knowledge can be made less true by new evidence that questions previous results.
Technopolitics: those who decide what or how resources are devoted to particular scientific research subjects.
The scientific approach: a rigorous, demanding intellectual approach designed to make testable, credible, objective statements about the natural and social world. This approach attempts to exclude the biases that could affect the researcher, the subject (if a person), or the analyst who compiles the statistical results. Lastly, the research must be reproducible. However, there is no such thing as zero risks. Furthermore, the way the media presents and explains scientific results can lead to a biased interpretation.
Practice the Scientific Method
The scientific method is characterized by the following:
The systematic search for errors.
The consideration of potential biases before, during, and after the experiment.
The ability to reproduce the experiment.
While this approach is used in the “hard” and human sciences, it can also be applied to critical thinking and uncovering the truth.
For example, you can use it in a market study or analyze marketing operations to guarantee reliability and minimize risks. Above all, it is about following the scientific method. It will help alert you to any errors in the decision-making process.
Remember, though: science is apolitical and amoral. It aims to explain the world as it is, not as it ought to be, which means humans skew science for bad or good.
The media can be tough on science. There are several reasons for this:
Scientists are not always great communicators. They are often highly specialized and lack the skills to communicate in laymen's terms. Exceptions such as Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the famous director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York only confirm the rule.
A scientific article (research protocols, potential conflicts, results) is not easy to read or understand. It is not unusual for a blog or journal article to report research conclusions inaccurately or incorrectly.
The scientific community is just like any other, with biased, sensitive, motivated, empathetic (or otherwise) individuals. In other words, they are fallible.
Readers don't always understand that a scientific article is not an opinion. It includes statistical data and peer review.
Even peer-reviewed studies don’t offer proof. Though most published studies have statistically relevant findings, as many as 5% will be incorrect. The truth lies in the replication of an investigation by independent researchers who arrive at the same conclusion.
When you hear, “A U.S. study shows that…,” consider it low-quality evidence. It shouldn’t affect your credibility gauge. On the other hand, a meta-analysis gives you a fairly precise idea of the status of your knowledge on a given subject.
Test Your Understanding of the Method
Try to rank the following statements in order of credibility:
My brother, a telecoms expert, tells me there's nothing to fear from 5G.
The Shift Project reports that online video streaming generates as high a level of greenhouse gases as an entire country such as Spain.
A Cochrane Review shows that when a company gives step trackers to its employees to increase their physical activity, it has no noticeable effect on health.
A BBC report shows that glyphosate has to be banned. Professor Séralini's studies in 2012 had the same conclusions.
Are you finished?
Here is the order from most credible to the weakest hypothesis:
C. Read this article "Do activity monitors help adults with stroke become more physically active?" from the Cochrane Library.
B. Read this page from The Shift Project.
A and D are equal.
Note that only statements 3 and 5 were the subject of a scientific publication.
Dig Deeper
The scientific method helps you avoid making mistakes when thinking of a situation. However, there are many ways to approach critical thinking; feel free to dig deeper into some of them:
A philosophical-historical approach from Greek philosophers or the Enlightenment (university studies, philosophy, etc.).
A popular approach (YouTube channels, such as Big Think, Veritasium, Kevin deLaplante’s channel, Holy Koolaid, and Captain Disillusion).
Real-life applications, such as the study of paranormal phenomena (i.e., James Randi’s debunking of psychics, Mark Rober’s scientific testing of common myths, MythBusters, resources on Skeptic.org.uk, Questions for science, etc.).
Read dedicated texts: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Ola Rosling, Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed, The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli, and The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan.
Use a teaching resource approach (MOOC, TED-Ed, GoogleTalks, Khan Academy, Crash Course, The School of Life, etc.).
Let's Recap!
In this chapter, you learned that the scientific method could be a useful tool in critical thinking. To apply it, you need to observe the following points:
Always look out for errors.
Look for any biases before, during, and after the experiment.
Replicate the experiment.
Use a peer review system to avoid errors.
Bertrand Russell says, “Give me good reasons to think what you think.” From his quote, you can surmise that the scientific method is useful in critical thinking.
In the first part of this course, you explored the cognitive biases that can lead to error and looked at the scientific method’s key points. Take the quiz to test what you have learned! 😉
