SCI 110 Evidence and Inference

News articles and TV stories describing scientific discoveries appear almost daily. Editorials use scientific findings in attempts to persuade readers/viewers to adopt particular viewpoints. Advertisors use scientific claims to entice customers. We are constantly asked to take actions, change our beliefs, or spend money based on the validity of scientific pronouncements.

In an ideal world, we would have the time, interest, and resources to investigate each of the claims that affect us. Lacking these, how should we proceed?

An important step in evaluating scientific arguments is differentiating between evidence and inference. Evidence consists of facts or data -- direct observations. An inference is an interpretation of the data or it is a conclusion made based on the facts.

Print out copies of the web page assigned by your instructor, and read the information in the web page. As a group, decide which sentences or phrases provide evidence and which are inferences. Underline the evidence and circle inferences. Not every sentence will fall into one of these categories.

While inferences made from evidence may vary from one individual to another, not all inferences are equally valid. What factors affect the likelihood that the inferences of one person are more likely to be true than those of another? Does the author of this web page have an agenda? Does the author stand to gain anything from persuading you that the information presented here is based on objective, reliable evidence?

Would you accept the claim of this article, not accept the claim, or conditionally accept it? Explain why.

This exercise was adapted from one written by the interdisciplinary science faculty at Kennesaw State University.