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This schedule is subject to substantial alteration as we go through the quarter!
The readings listed here are from the textbook, "A Beginner's Guide to the Scientific Method", but there will likely be additional readings provided here as links to PDF files during the quarter.
| Date | Lecture | Reading before class | |
| # | Topic | ||
| Wed, Apr 4 | 1 | Why we need science | |
| Fri, Apr 6 | 2 | Intros (course, web site, DH) | |
| Mon, Apr 9 | 3 | The Role of Science in Society | Ch. 1 |
| Wed, Apr 11 | 4 | Dave out sick | None |
| Fri, Apr 13 | 5 | The Real Scientific Method: Observations, Skepticism | Ch. 2 |
| Mon, Apr 16 | 6 | The Real Scientific Method: Explanations | Ch. 3 |
| Wed, Apr 18 | 7 | The Real Scientific Method: Testing Explanations | Ch. 4 |
| Fri, Apr 20 | 8 | The Real Scientific Method: Testing Explanations | Ch. 4 |
| Mon, Apr 23 | 9 | Explanations & Tests: Mythbusters! | Ch. 4 |
| Wed, Apr 25 | 10 | The Real Scientific Method: Establishing Causes | Ch. 5 (skim statistics) |
| Fri, Apr 27 | 11 | Science in Action - Group Exercises | TBA |
| Mon, Apr 30 | 12 | Statistics: Basic Measures, Randomness & Patterns | TBA |
| Wed, May 2 | 13 | Science and the Media | |
| Fri, May 4 | 14 | Midterm - Covers through lecture 12 | |
| Mon, May 7 | 15 | Statistics: Basic Measures, Randomness & Patterns | TBA |
| Wed, May 9 | 16 | Statistics: Measuring & Errors | TBA |
| Fri, May 11 | 17 | Statistics: Variability & Significance | TBA |
| Mon, May 14 | 18 | Statistics: Correlation & Causation | TBA |
| Wed, May 16 | 19 | Logical Fallacies | Ch. 6, and browse this site |
| Fri, May 18 | 20 | Logical Fallacies | Ch. 6 |
| Mon, May 21 | 21 | Science & Pseudoscience - Anecdotal Evidence, Hidden Data | Ch. 6 and this reading |
| Wed, May 23 | 22 | Guest Lecture: Eric Steig, UW, Global Climate Change Science & Skepticism | TBA |
| Fri, May 25 | 23 | Guest Lecture: Thor Hansen, WWU: Bigfoot | TBA |
| Mon, May 28 | HOLIDAY-Memorial Day | ||
| Wed, May 30 | 24 | Pseudoscience Presentations | Group Handouts |
| Fri, Jun 1 | 25 | Pseudoscience Presentations | Group Handouts |
| Mon, Jun 4 | 26 | Pseudoscience Presentations | Group Handouts |
| Wed, Jun 6 | 27 | Pseudoscience Presentations | Group Handouts |
| Fri, Jun 8 | 28 | Summary, Course Evaluations | None |
| Mon, Jun 11 | Final Exam 3:30-5:30 | ||