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What NOT to Read: A Lesson in Reviewing and Critiquing Scientific Literature Using a Junk Science Article on Climate Change

A central challenge for college-level science and ecology students is understanding the significance of peer-reviewed scientific literature. Such literature is increasingly easy to access, but students have little appreciation for how it is generated and little insight into how it should be critiqued. We propose a simple exercise that demonstrates the importance of a critical reading of not only the text and data of a research article but a careful analysis of the reputation of the journal and the qualifications of the authors. We use a widely accessible article (“Environmental effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide,” by A. B. Robinson, N. E. Robinson and W. Soon, available at: http://www.oism.org/pproject/GWReview_OISM600.pdf) that is frequently cited by critics of climate change science. The article superficially resembles a “real” scientific article, but the flaws and departures from acceptable norms in scientific publishing quickly become clear to students. This exercise functions well as an initial assignment in a research article-based course because it gives students motivation and tools to critically judge published research articles. It also introduces major concepts involving ecological effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and exposes students to the political and scientific debates surrounding global warming. Thus, it works particularly well in a global change, earth system science, or ecosystem ecology course.
Associated files
Format
Primary or BEN resource type
Secondary resource type
Discipline Specific Core Concepts
Life science discipline (subject)
Keywords global warming, climate change, peer review
Audience
Intended End User Role
Language
Educational Language
Pedagogical Use Category
Pedagogical Use Description This exercise functions well as an initial assignment in a research article-based course because it gives students motivation and tools to critically judge published research articles. It also introduces major concepts involving ecological effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and exposes students to the political and scientific debates surrounding global warming. Thus it works particularly well in a global change, earth system science or ecosystem ecology course.
Aggregation Level
Structure
Full Name of Primary Author Mary Ann Vinton
Primary Author Controlled Name
Primary Author Affiliation Department of Biology
Creighton University
Primary Author email vinton@creighton.edu
Secondary Author Name(s) Jon Kenning
Secondary Author Affiliation(s) Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Secondary Author Email(s) jon.kenning@nebraska.gov
Added By Id
  • mvinton
Submitter Name Mary Ann Vinton
Submitter Email vinton@creighton.edu
Rights Mary Ann Vinton
License
Publisher
Review type
Drought and Water Ecosystem Services Collection Off
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection Off
Big Data Collection Off
Editors Choice No
Resource Status
Date Of Record Submission 2012-11-19
I Agree to EcoEdDL's Copyright Policy & Terms of Use No
Date Of Record Release 2013-04-29 17:35:57
Last Modified By Id
  • mcmilla
Date Last Modified 2013-06-18 16:27:51
Release Flag Published

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