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Vaccines, Social Media, and the Public Health

By Kim R. Finer

Vaccines, Social Media, and the Public Health


 

Abstract

While the "vaccine controversy" has made headlines since the late 1990s, the emergence and popularity of social media has created a public opinion space bursting with pseudoscience, debatable claims and anecdotes regarding the value and importance of childhood vaccines. Because college students get a good deal of news and information from these resources, it is imperative that they distinguish science from pseudoscience and do not perpetuate rumor and falsehoods.  In this case study, written for lower division non-science majors, students will view videos on the scientific method and a mock talk show, analyze data, and scrutinize social media posts.  One of the takeaway points is that if a post/blog/interview identifies a victim, villain, and hero then the student should suspect a story grounded in belief involving pseudoscience.  Following completion of the case, students will hopefully come to conclusions about vaccines based more in the realm of science rather than pseudoscience and continue to apply the scientific method when evaluating social media posts on other scientific topics.

   

Date Posted

10/02/2017

Overview

Objectives

  • Reinforce the steps of the scientific method.
  • Distinguish science from pseudoscience by identifying empirical approaches and evaluation of data as opposed to the use of anecdote or unwarranted opinion.
  • Recognize the use of incorrect terminology, inaccurate information, and bias (including hero, villain, and victim identification) in individual social media postings.
  • Learn basic vaccine principles including composition and immune response by recipient.
  • Understand the significance of herd immunity as it impacts the public health.

Keywords

vaccine; pseudoscience; MMR vaccine; herd immunity; Zuckerberg; pseudoscience; anecdote; autism; McCarthy; MMR; autism; measles; social media

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Microbiology
Public Health
Science (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

Scientific method, Pseudoscience, Science and the media

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Directed, Discussion, Flipped

 

 

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