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Thanks Again Jennie and Jamie,
Let me offer an alternative explanation to the apparent propensity of people
being more willing to agree with something framed as a scientific theory or
technical issue.
Let me also use the example that Jamie provided.
74% marked true for the following statement, "according to the theory of
evolution, human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier
species of animals", but only 44% marked true when the phrase, "according to
the theory of evolution" was omitted.
Suppose I was a die-hard fundamentalist who believed that a completely
literal interpretation of the book of Genesis was the absolute basis of all
knowledge. I would mark "False" for the statement, "Human beings, as we
know them today, developed from earlier species of animals".
Now let us also suppose that I read the alternative question very carefully.
It starts with the phrase, "according to the theory of evolution". I would
then mark it "True". NOT because the question is framed as a scientific
theory or technical issue and NOT because I believe in evolution but because
I believe that the theory of evolution makes such a claim.
The same can be said of my neighbor's house falling down. I may not believe
that my neighbor's house may fall down but I may believe that the
engineering reports state that it may.
I certainly do not know if such a critical interpretation of the question is
valid or not but I do like to think that if I were in such a position I
would respond to the questions as I just detailed.
Jack Cannon
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennie Dusheck
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 11:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Creationists as proponents of academic freedom
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
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At 12:09 PM -0500 3/2/11, Alonzo, Jamie wrote:
>These differences probably indicate that many Americans hold religious
>beliefs that cause them to be skeptical of established scientific ideas,
>even when they have some basic familiarity with those ideas."
An additional explanation is that people are more willing to agree
with something framed as a scientific theory or technical issue.
E.g., "My neighbor's house may fall down next year." versus
"According to engineering reports, my neighbor's house may fall down
next year."
I'm postulating that more people would agree with the second statement.
Jennie Dusheck
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