We often talk about the need to learn the process of science, rather than simply memorizing the things that science has discovered. In fact, “science literacy” is defined by most as a combined knowledge of process and information. Indeed, the national science education standards state that “A literate citizen should be able to evaluate the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the methods used to generate it.”

Evaluating the quality of scientific information is not easy, especially in areas in which the methods are complex. In my own field of psychology, most undergraduates are terrified of the core requirements for the major: intermediate statistics and research methods. These are notoriously difficult courses, but without them it is nearly impossible to evaluate the quality of any study in the field.

So if college students have a tough time understanding the scientific method or how to use knowledge of it to properly evaluate claims, how can we expect middle school students to learn this?

What’s it mean to be “an honest liar?”

The magician Karl Germain, a famous American stage performer at the turn of the 20^th century, said that: “Conjuring is the only absolutely honest profession – the conjuror promises to deceive, and does.”

Germain nailed it. Once I use the word “magician,” I’m saying: I’m going to fool you. But that’s okay – it’s my job.

Whereas a self-proclaimed psychic who is aware of his own deceptions – and you can’t bend a spoon with sleight-of-hand without knowing that you are doing so – is being a dishonest liar. He’s lying about the fact that he’s lying. He’s saying: No, honest, I’m telling you the truth: It’s not a trick. I have supernatural powers.

Well I say: Screw that lying SOB and the unicorn he rode in on.

Here is a rundown of the top stories in scams, shams and outrageous claims from the past week courtesy of Doubtful News.

Skeptics were causing trouble this week. Well-informed and well-qualified science bloggers poked holes in a questionable acupuncture study. The main author didn't take too kindly to criticism. 

A few people associated with the word "skeptic" caused a row over at TED, an organization that stages and promotes talks on new ideas, when they featured some less than rational talks, lately. 

The Nigerian scam is still around because it works, even on law firms. 

Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.

Three myths about Stanislaw Burzynski and The Skeptics (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/three-myths-about-stanislaw-burzynski-and-the-skeptics/ Supporters of Burzynski, the “antineoplaston” cancer doctor, are spreading myths. Three of the most flagrant ones: (1) a cabal of skeptics are conspiring to terrorize cancer patients and feed them misinformation, (2) Burzynski is a pioneer of gene-targeted cancer therapy, and (3) Eric Merola (who made the 2 movies about Burzynski) is an objective reporter with no agenda. Dr. Gorski sets the record straight.