Science Isn’t a Belief System: A Citizen’s Guide to Scientific Thinking

Why We’re Still Talking About Science

A few years ago, I dedicated a series of articles to address the issue of why science matters. I discussed misinformation and disinformation, the importance of the hypothesis, the concept of peer review, research ethics, and other issues connected to the topic of science as a construct for searching for truth. However, it bears repeating because there continues to be a significant degree of backlash against science, the scientific process, and the community that promotes scientific exploration. The criticisms stem from those who do not understand the scientific process and its nuances and wish science to fit their personal beliefs. What they don’t understand is that science is not a belief system.

The Scientific Method: Simple, Transparent, Powerful

The scientific process is investigative. It is a series of steps to prove or disprove a hypothesis, theory, or general statement. It is answering a specific question in a set manner to strive for truth. The scientific method follows a simple logic:

• Ask a question.
• Form a testable hypothesis.
• Gather data through observation or experiment.
• Analyze the results.
• Draw conclusions.
• Share findings for others to review or replicate.

That’s it! It is a simple, but important process. There is nothing to believe in or not believe in. It is just a simple evaluation of data.

There are different modes of study that have greater or lesser validity, but those are made transparent by the investigator on how the study was performed. Whenever we read a scientific article, we look at the hypothesis, how the data was gathered, what tests were used to evaluate the data, and what conclusions were drawn from the results. We also check whether the study was peer reviewed for accuracy and ethical integrity. Finally, we see if a particular study can be applied to our specific patient population whom we are caring for. For instance, a conclusion for a study on patients older than 80 years of age can’t be applied to a population of children under 8 years of age.

Red Flags of Fake Science

The standard scientific method, outlined above, is used to search for the true answers to questions. However, there are those who seek to confuse those who aren’t familiar with the objectives of science with misleading surrogates that pretend to be science. This is termed pseudoscience. So, how does one recognize pseudoscience?

Pseudoscience is just how it sounds. It is meant to have the appearance of science, but it really is not science. It lacks evidence and cannot be verified or tested. It also does not follow the scientific method. Pseudoscience often disguises itself in the language of legitimacy. It may include charts, buzzwords like “toxins” or “natural immunity,” and even references to obscure, invalid studies. It lacks the core elements of real science: testability, transparency, and reproducibility. Red flags of pseudoscience include:

• Reliance on anecdotes or testimonials instead of data
• Use of scientific-sounding language without understanding
• Over-reliance on one “expert” or guru
• Appeal to the nature fallacy which assumes that if something is “natural”, it must be safe and better
• Claims that cannot be independently verified
• Conflating correlation with causation
• Financial conflict of interest without transparency
• Accusations of a cover-up (“They don’t want you to know…”)
• Resistance to peer review or scrutiny
• Citing discredited studies or out-of-context research
• Claims that violate basic principles of biology, chemistry, or physics
• Moving goalposts when predictions fail by redefining the outcome to something vaguer or something that can’t be proven false

When public figures, social media influencers, celebrities, or others promote unproven supplements or stoke vaccine fear under the guise of “freedom” or “wellness,” they are often using pseudoscientific strategies. So, how does one protect oneself from pseudoscience and misinformation?

Protecting Yourself from Misinformation

Well, you don’t need to be a scientist to think like one to protect yourself from pseudoscience and misinformation. You just need to adopt a few habits:

Ask for evidence. - What supports the claim? Is it peer-reviewed and able to be reproduced by others?

Be cautious of certainty. - Real science embraces uncertainty and admits when it doesn’t know.

Consider the source. - Is it a reputable institution, or someone with a product to sell?

Look for consensus. - If 98 out of 100 scientists agree, don’t be swayed by the two outliers with louder voices.

Resist the lure of conspiracies. - Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Ask a scientific source you trust. - Engage with those who have legitimate scientific training and education.

Know the difference between correlation and causation. - Just because two things happen together doesn’t mean one caused the other.

Understand that science evolves. - Scientific knowledge updates as new evidence emerges. This doesn’t mean science is “flip-flopping”, it means it is working as intended.

Watch out for emotional manipulation. - If a message makes you feel fearful, outraged, or superior…pause. Misinformation often hijacks emotion to override logic.

Stay curious, not cynical. - Skepticism is healthy, but denialism is not. Be open to learning, but demand solid evidence.

Science is not a “black box”. It is very transparent and easy to investigate. If something doesn’t make sense with a scientific study and can’t be explained properly using standard accepted methods of investigation, then that study may not be valid. If the study is not valid, then it shouldn’t be used to manage public health initiatives, patient care, or any process that it is aimed at managing or explaining anything.

Science is Clear – Even When it Changes

Science is not a belief system. It is a process of investigation and searching for truth. As we learn more about an aspect of science, the results may change and what we knew was true before may not be true now. It is not that science failed. It is that we learned more about science.

In the end, science does not care what we believe. Science is just science. What we do with what we learn is another story. Nonetheless, we must continue to strive for scientific truth because it ultimately improves our lives. By thinking critically, questioning boldly, and holding fast to the principles of science, we protect not just knowledge, but the integrity of our shared future. However, those who wish to confuse us with pseudoscience to fit their own narrative and motivations need to be recognized for what they are…architects of confusion and self-interest, not truth.

What’s one claim you’ve seen online that made you pause, and how did you figure out if it was science or pseudoscience?

Some helpful fact-checking websites:

Snopes – a fact-checking website that specializes in debunking or confirming the veracity of claims, often focusing on urban legends, hoaxes, and misinformation that circulates online.

PubMed - the gold standard for finding peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Science Feedback – is an online publication verifying the credibility of influential information and media coverage that claims to be scientific in fields that are particularly prone to misunderstanding and misinformation, such as climate change and health.

FactCheck.org – a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in US politics. It monitors factual accuracy of what is said by major US political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.