I find it alarming that a number of people I know fall for many very common logical fallacies regarding false scientific claims. So often the word "science" is thrown into a sentence or a conversation or a book title to add legitimacy to a claim. Frequently, these claims use common logical fallacies such as:

1. Appeal to authority: where the person either claims to be an expert or cites an expert to bolster their claims


2. Appeal to tradition: where the person  calls upon some time honored tradition or urban legend


3. Citing inexistent sources: where the person uses science or a scientist that does not exist to make their claim seem science-based


4. Citing sources that are wrong: where the person uses scientific words and phrases to make something seem legitimate, even though the words or phrases are used out of context or often inaccurately

So, how can one avoid falling for these logical fallacies? I think the main reason that people fall for logical fallacies is because they are not informed about the area in which the claim is being made, and therefore they do not want to ask questions that may make them feel stupid. I also think this is the very reason that these logical fallacies are incorporated into such claims. The people making these claims are feeding on an uninformed or misinformed clientele!  In reality, these modern day snake oil salesmen(women) can make any claim they want, and unless people are willing to investigate the claims themselves, they may believe that something is science-based when it is not. So what's the difference between something that is scientific versus something that contains scientific language added for effect?

The scientific method is a very rigorous process whereby facts are determined by a community of scientists. The goal of science is often to observe natural phenomena, understand and explain how these phenomena work, predict the conditions, results, timing of the phenomena; and in some cases develop methods to control it. It involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments to test the hypotheses, and in cases where the hypothesis is correct; developing theories and laws that explain the original observation. Once a result is obtained, it must withstand the scrutiny of other scientists in the field through a process of peer-review, and then it is published and made available for the entire scientific community to review and verify or refute. Scientific claims that are genuine, have been through the ringer!  And in fact, science is always advancing as new hypotheses are generated and tested and new results are obtained. Scientific claims are usually well established, well supported, and well referenced.

Things that seem scientific, but that are not, often try to take advantage of scientific sounding words, but without explaining the details.  For example, phrases like "science of being" or "energy fields of the body" are often used, but with no explanation and no references.  In addition, often these people claim to have found something that main stream science has missed, or is ignoring or that was recently revived from an ancient tradition.  And often these people are very passionate about their product/method/worldview because they believe it themselves!  But, just because someone believes it, does not make it true!  No matter how passionate they are.  As a general rule, if refusing to believe someone's claim makes them angry or spiteful; approach such claims with skepticism.

So, what should you do if you suspect a scientific claim false or exaggerated?

1. Check out the claim using internet sites such as Quackwatch.com or Snopes.com.  These sites often have valuable information about many of the false claims that are circulating.

2. Keep up to date on recent claims by listening to podcasts that specialize in debunking common myths (such as Skeptoid.com at: http://www.scientificblogging.com/node/54731/edit or Quackcast at: http://www.quackcast.com/index.html).

3. Do a Google search of the author or promoter of the idea.  Are they associated with an institution of higher learning or a hospital or a respectable foundation? Do they have scientific credibility?

4. Do a literature search at Pub Med (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) by typing in the persons last name, followed by first and middle initials.  This will tell you if they have had any recent publications in scientific journals.

5. Find a blog that discusses the claim and ask a question in the comment section.

I have been asked, "Why does it matter if someone falls for a false claim if they believe it works for them?" I think it matters because often those making these claims are making money off of those that fall for them.  This is dishonesty and thievery in my opinion.  It matters because many times those that fall for such claims may avoid getting the help that they really need.  And, I think it matters because even if the person thinks it is helping and receives some benefit from the placebo effect; with a treatment that really did work they would get the same placebo effect plus the added benefit of an effective therapy!

So, be on the look out for those false claims and when you find them, post them in my comments section so that we can inform others about them!