MegaMaester

Scientific Thinking · Module 3

How Science Really Works

Module 1 taught the foundations of scientific thinking; Module 2 taught how to evaluate evidence. This module steps back to see science as a living human enterprise — how it is actually practised, how it changes, and where it fits in society.

You will learn how modern science is really done, how science and technology drive each other, what science can and cannot answer, how science changes its mind, how science and society interact, how to communicate and consume science responsibly, and how to carry scientific thinking through life.

Lessons
7 lessons
Estimated time
~6-8 hours
Assessment
Module quiz included

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Lessons

Lesson 1 · 16 min

How Modern Science Is Done

Lesson 2 · 16 min

Science and Technology

Lesson 3 · 16 min

The Limits and Frontiers of Science

Lesson 4 · 16 min

How Science Changes Its Mind

Lesson 5 · 16 min

Science and Society

Lesson 6 · 16 min

Communicating and Consuming Science

Lesson 7 · 16 min

Thinking Like a Scientist for Life

Check your understanding

Finish the lessons, then test yourself. Your best score is saved on this device. You can also open this quiz on its own page.

How Science Really Works — Module Assessment

14 questions · pass mark 75%

  1. 1.In modern academic science, what is the typical basic working unit?
  2. 2.Which statement best captures the role of 'priority' (being first to publish) in science?
  3. 3.Which best describes the relationship between science and technology?
  4. 4.The invention of the transistor at Bell Labs in 1947 best illustrates which point?
  5. 5.A city is deciding whether to build a new highway. Which part of that decision can science, on its own, settle?
  6. 6.What did David Hume point out in his "is–ought" observation?
  7. 7.According to Kuhn, the difference between normal science and a paradigm shift is that:
  8. 8.Wegener's continental-drift hypothesis was mainly rejected by geologists for decades because:
  9. 9.A report states: "The evidence shows the new dam would cut flood risk by half, so the town must build it." Which part is a value judgement rather than a scientific finding?
  10. 10.Which statement best describes scientific consensus as discussed in this lesson?
  11. 11.A headline says a food "doubles your risk" of a disease. Which single piece of information most changes how alarming this is?
  12. 12.The 2014 BMJ study by Sumner and colleagues found that exaggeration in health news most often:
  13. 13.You believe a new morning routine makes you more focused. Which approach best reflects thinking like a scientist?
  14. 14.What did Charles Darwin's "golden rule," described in his autobiography, actually involve?
Answer every question to submit.