REALL News - Vol 09 No 11 - 2001

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue: Volume 9, Number 11
Date: November 2001
Publisher: Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The REALL News, the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land, focuses on critical examination of beliefs related to science, pseudoscience, and the paranormal. It features a survey on college student attitudes, critiques of media portrayals of psychics, and discussions on topics ranging from evolution to environmental issues.

A Small Survey of College Student Attitudes and Beliefs about Science, Pseudoscience and the Paranormal

By Professor Joseph E. Armstrong

Professor Armstrong presents the results of a survey conducted among his nonscience major students, primarily elementary education majors in Illinois. He acknowledges biases in the sample (Illinois residents, small class size, predominantly female enrollment) but suggests the results offer insights into the attitudes of college-aged adults. The survey, administered anonymously at the beginning of the semester, covers beliefs about science, astrology, psychics, luck, UFOs, evolution, creationism, environmental issues, and human intelligence.

• Key findings include:
• Science: While 55% strongly disagreed that scientists are dogmatic, 96% of students later disagreed with this statement after learning about skepticism and scientific methods. However, some students felt science was taught unfairly if other 'opinions' (like Creationism) were not included, reflecting a post-modern view.
• Astrology: 55% strongly disagreed that astrology is valid, which is lower than the general public's reported belief.
• Psychics: 27% agreed that psychics can tell about the past and future, and 27% agreed that some can communicate with the dead and help solve crimes. The author notes that TV portrayals may influence these beliefs.
• Luck & Probability: Attitudes towards luck showed a strong parallel with psychic belief, though students struggled with probability concepts, with nearly half admitting they didn't know which lottery numbers were more likely to win.
• UFOs & Alien Abductions: A significant majority (64% disagreed, 18% strongly disagreed) did not believe UFOs have visited Earth. Similarly, most disagreed with the idea that recovered memories of alien abduction provide evidence of UFOs.
• Sexual Abuse & Recovered Memories: In stark contrast to UFOs, 73% agreed that recovered memories could be used to determine psychological problems derived from sexual abuse, highlighting a double standard in accepting recovered memories as evidence.
• Evolution & Creationism: While 55% were unsure about the Earth's age, 27% strongly disagreed that it was formed only a few thousand years ago. Most students disagreed that organisms change due to blind, random chance. However, 35% agreed that dinosaurs and humans coexisted, and a large majority (73%) agreed that creation science should be taught as an alternative to evolution, indicating a strong belief in fairness over scientific consensus.
• Environmental Issues: Students generally held strong "green" attitudes, agreeing that issues like deforestation and global warming are serious problems, but often lacked understanding of the underlying science.
• Human Intelligence: Over a third believed in measurable differences in intellectual abilities between human races, and a significant portion believed in differences between sexes, often based on hearsay rather than data.

Armstrong concludes that students often hold beliefs not based on knowledge or data, and that religious beliefs are resistant to change. He notes that while skepticism can be initially viewed negatively, students develop a more balanced view with practice. He also observes that many students perceive scientific discourse as an attempt to change their thinking rather than an exchange of informed opinions, and that a significant portion (around 20%) found the class useful for developing critical thinking skills.

From the Chairman

By David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg expresses disgust with psychics who claimed to have predicted the September 11 attacks, noting their tendency to exploit tragedies. He also condemns a website selling homeopathic remedies for anthrax, deeming it more dangerous than psychics due to the potential for fatal harm. The November meeting will feature a viewing and discussion of the final PBS episode on evolution, which addresses creationism and the relationship between science and religion.

Crossing Over the Boundaries of Good Taste

By David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg criticizes John Edward's television show 'Crossing Over' for planning a 'special' World Trade Center edition to capitalize on the September 11 tragedy. He argues that using pretend powers to prey on grieving families is inherently exploitative, despite claims of tasteful presentation. The backlash from advertisers and stations, who viewed it as a "crass attempt to cash in on a national tragedy," ultimately prevented the special from airing. Bloomberg asserts that this was no different from Edward's usual practice of making money by preying on traumatized individuals, but that the scale of the tragedy made the exploitation particularly egregious.

He also includes a quote from Galileo Galilei: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

TV Guide Psychic Predictions Sure to Be Worthless

By David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg analyzes predictions made by four psychics for the Fall TV season, published in TV Guide. He notes that none of the psychics foresaw the September 11 attacks or their impact on the TV season, highlighting their lack of genuine predictive ability. He examines specific predictions for shows like 'Survivor 2,' 'Jason Alexander's new series,' and 'Emeril Lagasse's' and 'Ellen DeGeneres's' shows, pointing out contradictions among the psychics and the vagueness of many predictions. For example, one psychic predicted Danny Bonaduce would be a hit, only for his show to be canceled after two episodes. Bloomberg concludes that the predictions are worthless and that the psychics will likely claim success by interpreting vague statements after the fact.

Alternative Medical Therapies

• The article presents student survey results on various alternative medical therapies:
• Echinacea: 73% were unsure if it was effective for colds.
• Vitamin C: 46% agreed that megadoses could help prevent colds, while 27% disagreed.
• Garlic: 64% were unsure if it could help prevent cancer.
• Homeopathy: 45% disagreed with the premise that homeopathic medicines retain value despite extreme dilution.
• Faith Healing: 45% disagreed that testimonials of faith healing demonstrate people have faith healing abilities.

The author notes that familiarity with a therapy influences belief, and that the placebo effect is often at play. He also observes that students can be reluctant to criticize therapies advocated by peers.

Evolution & Creationism

• Student responses on evolution and creationism reveal:
• Earth's Age: 55% were unsure if the Earth is over 4 billion years old.
• Geological Formation: 27% strongly disagreed that Earth was formed by a recent flood.
• Evolution: 55% disagreed that organisms change due to blind, random chance.
• Coexistence of Dinosaurs and Humans: 36% agreed that dinosaurs and humans coexisted.
• Teaching Creation Science: 73% agreed that creation science should be taught as an alternative to evolution, indicating a strong belief in fairness, even if it means presenting non-scientific viewpoints.

The author expresses concern about the lack of understanding of geology and the strong support for teaching creationism, which he believes bodes poorly for science education.

Environmental Issues

Students generally agreed that environmental problems like deforestation, global warming, and pollution are serious. However, they often lacked specific knowledge about the science behind these issues, such as the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or the impact of human-origin chemicals on the ozone layer. While 82% disagreed that population growth is not a serious problem, their positions were often not informed by facts.

Human Intelligence

Regarding intelligence, 36% agreed there are measurable differences between human races, and 18% agreed there are measurable differences between human sexes. The author notes that these beliefs are often based on hearsay rather than data, with one student attributing differences to math and science tests favoring men.

Conclusions

Professor Armstrong summarizes that his students often show less belief in the paranormal than the general public but possess a shocking ignorance of science and math. Their positions are seldom based on thought, reflection, data, or knowledge. He notes that beliefs tied to religion are difficult to change. While skepticism can be initially challenging, students can develop a more balanced view. He observes that many students perceive scientific discourse as an attempt to change their minds, and that only about 20% found the class useful for developing critical thinking skills.

Our Next Meeting

This section announces the next REALL meeting, which will feature a videotape presentation and discussion of the final episode of the PBS series "Evolution." The episode reportedly explores the struggle between science and religion and suggests they can be compatible. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, at 7:00 PM, at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, and is free and open to the public.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of beliefs, the importance of scientific literacy, and the critique of pseudoscience and media sensationalism. The REALL News, through its articles and the survey presented, consistently promotes a skeptical and evidence-based approach to understanding the world. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific reasoning and critical thinking, challenging unsubstantiated claims and highlighting the prevalence of misinformation and flawed reasoning in popular culture and among the general public, particularly students.