Chapter 7: Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding

Glossary

Pseudoscience: "Claims presented so that they appear [to be] scientific even though they lack supporting evidence and plausibility" (Shermer 1997, p. 33).

Science: "A set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed and inferred phenomena, past or present, and aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation" (Shermer 1997, p. 17).

Scientific literacy: Knowing basic facts and concepts about science and having an understanding of how science works.

Therapeutic cloning: Use of cloning technology in medical research to develop new treatments for diseases; differentiated from human reproductive cloning.