Abstract
This study investigates the pseudo-scientific and superstitious ideas Swedish upper-secondary students articulate and if there is a relationship between their ideas and their knowledge of the human body and health. The study is based on a questionnaire among 300 students in which the students were asked to consider statements related to different treatments that may influence the human body and health, and questions about physiology, health and nutrition. The analysis reveals that a relatively large group of students give credance to statements such as that some people can transfer thoughts or that the phases of the moon can affect a person’s health. The analysis also shows that there is no apparent relationship between the students’ pseudo-scientific beliefs and their scientific knowledge about the human body. Furthermore, although the results do not indicate a gender difference with regards to the power of faith in pseudo-scientific ideas, they do indicate that male and females consider these questions differently. The results imply a need for discussion and critical investigation in school science concerning the relationship between science and pseudo-scientific ideas in order to enhance critical thinking and development of the understanding of the nature of science.
Highlights
Studies within the field of science education and in other areas, such as psychology or religion, demonstrate a rather complex image of people’s understanding of the relationship between science, pseudo-science and New Age ideas
What pseudo-scientific ideas concerning the human body and health do students hold and how do they relate these ideas to scientific explanations?
The main intention of this study has been to explore what pseudo-scientific ideas students hold regarding the human body and health, and how they relate these ideas to scientific explanations
Summary
Studies within the field of science education and in other areas, such as psychology or religion, demonstrate a rather complex image of people’s understanding of the relationship between science, pseudo-science and New Age ideas. Other studies (e.g. CBS, 2002; Preece & Baxter, 2000; Sjödin, 1995) describe an image in which large groups of individuals in contemporary Western society believe in pseudo-science, superstition and paranormal phenomena such as crystal therapy, lucky numbers and telepathy. Sjödin (1995) investigated upper-secondary students’ paranormal beliefs and found that more than one third of the students’ agree or partly agree with statements that there exist people who are able to contact spirits, tell the future, or read other people’s thoughts. More than one third of the participants of the Eurobarometer study categorise homeopathy as science
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