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Tagged: Refutation

Educational Myths Debunked - Volumes Figure 1: Dr. Stefan T. Siegel 0

Empowerment instead of mind-control. Why myth-busting does not interfere with intellectual independence

“Myth-busting is just policing thought!” “Fact-checkers tell us what to think!” These claims are common, but do they hold up? Ironically, while myth-busting aims to foster critical thinking, it is often accused of shutting it down. This article examines why challenging misinformation empowers rather than controls, and why myth-busting strengthens, rather than weakens, intellectual independence.

Refutation Rubrics Sharepic Dr. Stefan T. Siegel Debunking Criteria 0

Not All Refutations Are Created Equal: Fight Myths Better with Refutation Rubrics

More myths, fortunately more refutations, unfortunately, not all of them are effective.
In the (mis)information age and seductive myths abound, the art of debunking has never been more important. But how can educators, researchers, and students evaluate whether a refutation is actually sound? In this post, I describe the theoretical background, structure, and potentials of the tool “refutation rubrics” designed to evaluate the quality of refutations systematically and transparently.

Siegel, Stefan T. (2024). The Science, Craft, and Art of Mythbusting in Science Communication. Journal Trends und Themen aus der Wissenschaftskommunikation. https://www.wissenschaftskommunikation.de/the-science-craft-and-art-of-mythbusting-79205/ 0

The Science, Craft, and Art of Mythbusting

How can myths be busted in science communication? Stefan T. Siegel, researcher at the Institute for Business Education (IWP) at the University of St. Gallen, suggests a threefold approach. He explores how science communicators can effectively deal with questionable beliefs and unfounded claims.