Do you believe in ghosts? Bigfoot? Alien abductions? If you said yes to any of these, you’re not alone. Many people hold beliefs about the existence of paranormal phenomona. However, many of these things cannot and have not been supported by scientific evidence. Though many people (even well respected people) claim that science can prove the existance of the phenomena, many of their arguments fall flat in the face of critical thinking. While certainly there is nothing wrong in believing in these things, its important to distinguish what science is and how it is used to discover patterns and knowledge about the world around us. Science is based on natural and predictable phenomena that can be tested. Beware of claims made by “pseudoscientists”.
Instructions
Read chapter 9 in your book.
Choose a topic that is considered to be in the realm of the paranormal, such as alien abuctions, ESP, or ghosts.(Go to Paranormal topics module for a list of topics you can choose from, obviously you can’t choose a topic that was throughly discussed in the textbook.)
DO NOT choose a topic you are personally committed to as it will skew your objectivity. The point of this lesson isn’t to convince you either way.
The point is to analyze the so-called evidence surrounding the phenemona from a scientific viewpoint and using critical thinking skills. You must demonstrate to me that you have read Chapter 9 and 10 of the textbook. You are applying the skills you learned in these chapters into the paper.
Compile a short list of claims and evidence used to support the existance of the phenomena. You can use various websites and books, don’t forget to include the source in the works cited portion of your paper.
For instance if I was doing a report on bigfoot. Some of the claims I might list are: eyewitness accounts, footprints found, and hair fibers. Be sure to be specific in the evidence and you must include at least two different claims or pieces of evidence; one of the two theories needs to be a plausible alternative theory.
Write a paper that discusses the topic and its evidence and then analyze the each piece of evidence or claim according to the criteria of adequacy.
(Each criteria should be about a paragraph to do a thorough job of evaluation.)
Testability: whether there is some way to determine if a theory is true
Fruitfulness: the number of novel predictions made
Scope: the amount of diverse phenomena explained
Simplicity: the number of assumptions made
Conservatism: how well a theory fits with existing knowledge
Discuss ways that science could support the existance without relying on weak arguments. Use the scientific method and scientific processes to propose a research method that could support the existance of the phenomenon. (Chapter 10 should be helpful)
Sample Solution
markups associated with buying a product from a higher company. With the level of control Vertically integrated companies had, their supply chain efficiency and profit increased (Doc D). Andrew Carnegie first used this tactic in business practice and dominated the steel market with his company Carnegie Steel. John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industry business magnate during the gilded age. He is widely considered the wealthiest American of all time, and the richest person in modern history. His company used a different spin off of vertical integration. (Doc B) Rockefellerâs strategy of establishing a monopoly over one aspect of the production process of oil refining was labeled as horizontal integration. To eliminate his competitors, Rockefeller used his firmâs superior size to negotiate rates from the railroads that transported both his and his competitorsâ oil, making it nearly impossible for his competitors to stay in business.(Doc C) This economic success occurred with a handful of businesses during the time, and shows how the tactics of horizontal and vertical integration benefited the wealthy class by giving them opportunities to become top dogs in their fields of work. Although it may seem like there are no possible benefits with vertical integration to anyone other than the entrepreneurs, a lot of the working class was impacted by this tactic as well. The rapid growth of the manufacturing industry created a great need for unskilled workers. This demand caused mass migration, farm workers moved from rural areas of the United States to find jobs in Americaâs rapidly growing cities. The increase in jobs was also a draw for people in foreign countries. (Doc E) Many people immigrated to the United States in search of work and the opportunity to live the American dream. They could use these new job opportunities as stepping stones into a new life of owning land or carrying out their life aspirations that their old country couldnât fulfill. (Doc F) This was impactful because it created a large amount of jobs that required manual work, no one needed to be skilled or knowledgeable to get a job. Also due to vertical integration, our nation became industrialized and urban just like it continues to be today. It is clear to see how prospering entrepreneurs benefited in the gilded age, but the lower working class was impacted as well given unskilled labor and a chance to start a new life, aspiring for the â>
markups associated with buying a product from a higher company. With the level of control Vertically integrated companies had, their supply chain efficiency and profit increased (Doc D). Andrew Carnegie first used this tactic in business practice and dominated the steel market with his company Carnegie Steel. John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industry business magnate during the gilded age. He is widely considered the wealthiest American of all time, and the richest person in modern history. His company used a different spin off of vertical integration. (Doc B) Rockefellerâs strategy of establishing a monopoly over one aspect of the production process of oil refining was labeled as horizontal integration. To eliminate his competitors, Rockefeller used his firmâs superior size to negotiate rates from the railroads that transported both his and his competitorsâ oil, making it nearly impossible for his competitors to stay in business.(Doc C) This economic success occurred with a handful of businesses during the time, and shows how the tactics of horizontal and vertical integration benefited the wealthy class by giving them opportunities to become top dogs in their fields of work. Although it may seem like there are no possible benefits with vertical integration to anyone other than the entrepreneurs, a lot of the working class was impacted by this tactic as well. The rapid growth of the manufacturing industry created a great need for unskilled workers. This demand caused mass migration, farm workers moved from rural areas of the United States to find jobs in Americaâs rapidly growing cities. The increase in jobs was also a draw for people in foreign countries. (Doc E) Many people immigrated to the United States in search of work and the opportunity to live the American dream. They could use these new job opportunities as stepping stones into a new life of owning land or carrying out their life aspirations that their old country couldnât fulfill. (Doc F) This was impactful because it created a large amount of jobs that required manual work, no one needed to be skilled or knowledgeable to get a job. Also due to vertical integration, our nation became industrialized and urban just like it continues to be today. It is clear to see how prospering entrepreneurs benefited in the gilded age, but the lower working class was impacted as well given unskilled labor and a chance to start a new life, aspiring for the â>
