Who cares about these studies?
I too would answer that the Earth orbits the moon if a sciency guy approached me in any kind of test and asked this question.
1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
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Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#12The full paper is here (link in the story is broken): http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind14/content/chapter-7/c07.... To me the worst part is on page 25. Only about 30% of Americans understand scientific inquiry. I believe this is the root of the anti-science undercurrent in mainstream American society.
The table on page 23 shows the US tying or beating all other sampled countries for % correct in most of the basic science pop-quiz questions. How does this mesh with the widely-repeated statistics of US math and science education ranking 10th, 20th, or lower in the world? Is it because the answers come from the general population rather than students?
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#13I thought it's relative to what frame of reference you choose.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#14The astrology thing is possibly a matter of vocabulary. Especially in a "let's talk about science" context, it would be easy to just hear "astronomy" and say "sure, that's a science".
You'd be right about that: http://neoacademic.com/2014/02/14/nsf-report-flawed-american...
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#15Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot of people I've talked to think the Big Bang "Theory" is a work of fiction someone invented. I've found that among a lot of the people I talk to there's this severe, fundamental lack of understanding around how science works. Not a lack of scientific knowledge…
>I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. Well they are correct.
If a scientific theory is just a guess, then the human eye is a just lens.
I'm sure you're aware, there's a bit more to it than that.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#16Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot of people I've talked to think the Big Bang "Theory" is a work of fiction someone invented. I've found that among a lot of the people I talk to there's this severe, fundamental lack of understanding around how science works. Not a lack of scientific knowledge…
I once explained to my (very argumentative) ex that when most people use words like "hypothesis" or "theory" they basically mean "guess." He was shocked and then said something like "that explains a lot of conversations I have had..." Of course, he meant their scientific definition, not remotely what most people meant when arguing with him.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#17So?
Even if title quote is true, what percentage of the population needs to know this (to live better, work better, act in some different fashion)? 5%? 1%? less?
In other words, it is knowledge of trivia for most people. Perfectly fine, if you go in for that sort of thing (and I do), but why look down your nose at those who don't?
Of course, knowing the scientific method can change how you act, but so can understanding lots of things. Finite time and attention. Or be a hater.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#18Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot of people I've talked to think the Big Bang "Theory" is a work of fiction someone invented. I've found that among a lot of the people I talk to there's this severe, fundamental lack of understanding around how science works. Not a lack of scientific knowledge…
>I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. Well they are correct.
Fact: In science, an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed.
Law: A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances.
Hypothesis: A testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations.
Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.
(Source: http://arstechnica.com/science/2006/08/5164/)
Edit:
How it works...
"Massive objects are attracted to each other by the force of gravity." == Scientific Fact.
"Objects in motion remain in motion. For every force there is an equal an opposite reaction. Force is mass times acceleration." == Scientific Law (Newton's Laws of Motion).
"The bending of space under the influence of gravity can cause light to curve around massive objects." == Scientific Hypothesis (Verified by Eddington's 1919 solar eclipse observations).
All of the above (and a whole lot more) put together == General Theory of Relativity.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#19Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot of people I've talked to think the Big Bang "Theory" is a work of fiction someone invented. I've found that among a lot of the people I talk to there's this severe, fundamental lack of understanding around how science works. Not a lack of scientific knowledge…
Indeed, this is the reason why there is still so much backlash and state suppression of the highly established fact that is the theory of evolution.
Equivocation on top of religious biases.
Re: 1 in 4 Americans Don't Know Earth Orbits the Sun. Yes, Really.
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. Well they are correct.
No, they are not even remotely close to being correct.
Why? would you say, quantum mechanics theory is a universal truth, a fact, or just a very good guess? Because general relativity is also a theory, but both theories cannot be true in our universe as they contradict.
It's the same with almost any natural science theory. Theories try to be very good aproximations of the truth, until a better guess comes out.