Choosing a Paper Topic


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Introduction

One of the most important things you will do in KNW 2333 is select a topic for your research paper. It is critical that you do it correctly without going off into the weeds as we have seen. There might well be some current issues you are interested in. Note that some of these will NOT make good topics for 2333. We're going to show you how to identify these. We are also going to show you how to tell if you are starting out in a wrong direction.

What You Start With

The paper must begin with some claim that you believe to be nonsense (pseudoscientific, denial, or similar). You must quote the claim from its source, then reference that source so we can see where the claim came from. You cannot make up the claim yourself or say that "many people believe..." You must have a direct quote AND a citation. Also very important - do not start with a claim that you believe to be true and then try to prove it! This is usually good for a paper grade no higher than 1 out of 5, maybe even a zero.

Here's another very important concept: a claim and a question are NOT equivalent. Consider "Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe?" This is a question, not a claim. Also - it is a purely scientific question - there's no pseudoscience or denial here. Proper scientific work can get answers. Something like this is completely unsuitable and will get a very low grade - like zero.

What Does a Claim Look Like?

A claim is a statement or assertion, not a question. Consider something like "The model GH-25 field meter can detect the presence of ghosts." That's an assertion. "Do Ghosts exist?" is a question. Scientific work usually starts with a question. That is followed by the scientific process.

  • The goal is finding out the answer, or at least make progress toward doing so.
  • Formulate a hypothesis to answer the question.
  • Use the hypothesis to make a prediction about something that might be seen.
  • Design an experiment/observation to test your hypothesis.
  • carry out the experiment/observation.
  • Evaluate the results; see if the predicted phenomenon actually occurred.
  • If the results show your hypothesis is wrong, discard it and try again. If your hypothesis passes this test, try another test.
You will be looking for references to tests that have performed on the claim you are pursuing. You'd want reliable (and repeatable) evidence, which might be very hard to find.

Be sure that the paper uses or describes pseudoscience, the scientific method (especially where it is misused), or critical thinking so that it is applicable to this course.

  • Be sure you understand the difference between the following:
    • Religion. This covers religion-based claims or doctrines that cannot be scientifically tested. These lie entirely outside the realm of science and are not amenable to scientific examination. On the other hand, really testable claims based on religion are fair game. Example: in the early 20th century a physician named MacDougall decided that the soul had a measurable weight which could be measured at the time of death. The deceased should show a small weight loss at the time of death. Testable.

      For a real example of an untestable claim, look at Salon.com for 26 Feb 2013.

      A concerned viewer wrote to Pat Robertson for advice on demons and thrift stores:
      "I buy a lot of clothes and other items at Goodwill and other secondhand shops. Recently my mom told me that I need to pray over the items, bind familiar spirits, and bless the items before I bring them into the house. Is my mother correct? Can demons attach themselves to material items?" (Salon.com)

      Robertson's answer was:

      "Can demonic spirits attach themselves to inanimate objects? The answer is yes. But I don't think every sweater you get from Goodwill has demons in it. In a sense your mother is just being super cautious, so hey — it isn't gonna hurt you any to rebuke any spirits that might attach themselves to those clothes." (Salon.com)

      Figure out a way to test that one!
    • Pseudoscience. This includes claims of paranormal (supernatural) powers, supernatural phenomena (apparitions, miracles, etc), phenomena that would violate solidly confirmed physical laws (like perpetual motion machines) and claims lacking any scientific basis (astrology,...). These claims, unlike religion, can usually be tested; it is usually possible to design an experiment to find out whether the claimed phenomenon actually occurs.
    • Scientific fraud. Fraud includes things like falsifying data, fudging the statistics, omitting negative results or data, suppressing study results that are unfavorable, and ethical violations. Real scientific fraud is not accidental and has bad consequences for the person doing it.
    • Science done badly. Here you find things like sampling methods that produce biased samples, using an inappropriate statistical method, using inappropriate lab animals for a test, or any number of more significant procedural errors. Such errors are not necessarily willful. Other scientists reviewing or replicating a flawed experiment will usually find and reveal the errors in the original work.

See If Sufficient Tests Exist

Search literature looking for tests of the claim. Ask librarians for help if you run into trouble. You'll need at least 3-4 test experiments. If sufficient tests cannot be found, try another claim. In that case be sure to send your professors a new abstract; this can head off problems.

Start Early!

Begin working on selecting your topic right after we have this class on doing so. If your first choice doesn't work out, you need time to try again. There is a due date for abstracts, but your professors will happily accept one early, which will give you more time if it doesn't work.

Include a Little History

A bit of background and history is often useful to aid in understanding the claim and its origin. Up to a page is reasonable; don't pad your paper with history.