This small collection of teaching activities and discussion prompts seeks to convey to students the difference between legitimate debate regarding climate change and debate which is meant to sway public opinion to protect lucrative industries. Specific examples are employed to illustrate how various conclusions can be derived. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Eugene Williamson

Vicki Osis

English

Digital Library for Earth System Education

Differentiating Science from Opinion 
Vicki Osis /Eugene Williamson 
 
Background: 
      Climate change is a hotly debated topic. There is much skepticism about climate 
change and some scientists are proclaiming that climate change is not happening or 
climates change all the time. Some even maintain the planet is cooling. Others argue that 
global warming is occurring, but it is only due to natural events. 
 
     We explain this skepticism by looking at similar events such as what happened with 
cigarette smoking. There was a push back when researchers found and were issuing 
reports that smoking caused health problems. We now know that the tobacco industry 
paid scientists and doctors to question the research and present opposing information that 
stated tobacco is harmless, or even healthful for users. 
 
    All fields of scientific research have scientists with different theories and differing 
research results. Their information is debated and discussed at scientific conferences and 
through the publication of their papers. This is welcome and is one of the strengths of 
science. However there is a difference between healthy debate and debate simply to sway 
public opinion to protect lucrative industries. The task for the public is to distinguish 
between what is legitimate debate and what is not. 
 
• Why is it important to check with different sources when taking information from the 
media.  Is everything true that is put in print or broadcast on television? 
• What about newspaper articles? Are their articles based on factual information or is it 
opinion.  
 
The NY Times and other major newspapers are usually reliable sources and they do carry 
opinion articles but they are labeled opinion. When reading the news articles, watch the 
author and determine if it is reporting facts or giving opinion. If there are citations what is 
their source of the information. Is it from a science research article and has it been 
published in a scientific journal. Such as Nature, etc. Many articles will cite the journal in 
which it has been published. 
 
• Why are science journal articles more trustworthy?  
It is important that students understand how science information is screened before 
publication. The process is called “Peer Review”. This is a process used before science 
research results can be published in science journals. Scientists with similar research 
interests review and critique the manuscript They check on the procedures used in the 
research and the methods used in the data analysis. If they find irregularities the 
document is rejected. This is a form of quality control and generally has served us very 
well. 
 
     Science journals are the standard source of information for scientists to review and 
gather information that pertains to their research interest. Nature is a good example of a 
peer reviewed science journal. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journals This site 
has lists of science journals arranged in alphabetical order. Many fields of scientific 
research are represented. 
 
Teaching Activity: Sorting out facts from opinions, lies, or fiction. 
Have students read through the following article: Tobacco Industry Tactics (see page 4 
of this document )discuss with students how lucrative industries have used various 
methods to confuse the public about their product to maintain profits.  After reading the 
article answer the following questions.  
What tactics did they use?  
• What advertising used?  
• Were scientists hired to report research that stated tobacco was NOT 
harmful, Did they create controversy whether tobacco really is harmful  
• Did they fund politicians who would pass favorable laws for their 
industry.  
What about the controversy over climate change?  
The opposing views climate change skeptics are promoting in regard to climate change 
are lengthy.  The same tactics used by the tobacco industry is at work with this issue.  
Several websites have been set up to deal with the theories and arguments that skeptics 
are promoting. One of the best is “How to talk to a skeptic”.http://tinyurl.com/6pyshd. 
This website has earned praise from scientists as a good site to sort through the 
controversy. Scan through the long list of denial statements that are linked to science-
based rebuttal. 
Glacier melt activity 1 
Discuss the issue of Glacier Melt. Use this website: Glaciers have always grown and 
receded. http://tinyurl.com/4xtt6vn Also one of the many skeptic arguments is that “The 
planet is actually cooling NOT warming.   Therefore if that statement were true, glaciers 
would not be melting. Read the science-based answer on the “glaciers have always grown 
and receded.” 
Glacier melt activity 2. Explore Glacier National Park 
Direct students go to the home page of Glacier National Park. 
(http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm 
Introductory paragraph from Glacier National Park:  given below on page 4. ‘ 
 
Discussion: 
If this is a glacier park, why is there no mention of glaciers? The park was originally 
created so that the public could view and enjoy the 150 glaciers in the park boundaries. 
The glaciers have melted since the middle of the 20th century. Examination of the maps 
and photographs provide clear evidence that the 150 glaciers known to have existed in the 
park a hundred years earlier have retreated, and in most cases, disappeared altogether. If 
climate scientists predicted, and we are now finding glaciers are retreating, what kind of 
conclusions can be drawn? Is the skeptic statement that glaciers have always grown and 
receded or the planet is cooling, really true? 
 
 
 
 
Climate change is just a Hoax 3: Skepticism or Science? 
Review the statement and the response on this website  http://tinyurl.com/5gmh7u 
Discuss with students why there are skeptics and push back against climate change. 
 • Why would there be so much effort to discredit climate change scientists in spite of the 
massive amounts of data that has been gathered to show climate change? 
Answer: Profitable fossil fuel industries like the tobacco industry will loose profits.  
 
• Why is the public likely to believe skeptic climate change arguments 
    Answer:  
        1. It is scary to think that the ecosystems that support us could greatly changed 
and be damaged.  Also there is reluctance to think about changing our life styles. 
The things that make our lives comfortable, cars and electricity are the source of 
most of the CO2 emissions. They fear loss those comforts in order to reduce CO2 
even through alternative energy sources are being developed. 
          2. Many who think climate change is happening think that technology will save us 
 from the worst of it.  However right now we are not investing in the technology 
 that will save us from the worst of climate change because skeptics have created 
 so much controversy.  
• Who are the groups that will profit from convincing the public that climate change is 
not occurring and will not be a problem? 
Answer. Fossil fuel industries (coal and oil) protect profits by saving the sales of their 
 products. 
  
• Who will be adversely affected by climate change? 
Answer. Farmers whose farm crops will be damaged or destroy heat waves, 
 droughts and floods. Severe storms, floods, droughts are already causing huge 
 and expensive problems for residents, through loss of homes, jobs and income.
 Homes can be damaged by extreme floods, and storms. 
 
Discussion: How much of the information available through TV, internet and newspapers 
should be examined with a questioning eye? Just because it is in print or broadcast does it 
really mean that all of it is accurate or true. 
Answer. All of it should be scrutinized.  Ask yourself is there a viewpoint or opinion 
being expressed in the article or news piece.  If so what aspect of the issue are they 
promoting?  
 
 
Good video on how to identify baloney in the media 
Baloney Detection Kit 
 http://tinyurl.com/nkt7ov 
  
Junk science vrs real science. 9-12 
http://tinyurl.com/6nabthc 
 
Climate denial explored  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0JsdSDa_bM 
 
Tobacco industry tactics for resisting public policy on health 
Bulletin of the world health organization.  
 
 
The tactics used by the tobacco industry to resist government regulation of its products 
include conducting public relations campaigns, buying scientific and other expertise to 
create controversy about established facts, funding political parties, hiring lobbyists to 
influence policy, using front groups and allied industries to oppose tobacco control 
measures, pre-empting strong legislation by pressing for the adoption of voluntary codes 
or weaker laws, and corrupting public officials. Formerly secret internal tobacco industry 
documents provide evidence of a 50-year conspiracy to ‘‘resist smoking restrictions, 
restore smoker confidence and preserve product liability defense’’. The documents reveal 
industry-wide collusion on legal, political and socially important issues to the tobacco 
industry and clearly demonstrate that the industry is not disposed to act ethically or 
responsibly. Societal action is therefore required to ensure that the public health takes 
precedence over corporate profits. Recommendations for reducing the political influence 
of the tobacco industry include the following. Every tobacco company in every market 
should publicly disclose what it knew about the addictiveness and harm caused by 
tobacco, when it obtained this information, and what it did about it. The industry should 
be required to guarantee internationally recognized basic consumer rights to its 
customers. Trade associations and other industry groupings established to deceive the 
public should be disbanded. These recommendations should be incorporated into WHO’s 
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 
 
 
Experience Glacier National Park http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm 
Come and experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and 
spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker's paradise for 
adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through 
historic chalets, lodges, transportation, and stories of Native Americans. Explore Glacier 
National Park and discover what awaits you. 
 
Vicki Osis Professor Emeritus Ore State U.  
Eugene Williamson- Retired teacher 8th grade  science.  
 


Differentiating Science from Opinion

http://members.peak.org/~laimons/climate_change/sci.pdf

Differentiating Science from Opinion

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