Basic Science Literacy Health and the Environment Essay

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Discussion 1

The news media and bloggers rely on “clickbait” headlines to grab readers’ attention and lure them into an article. Scholars write catchy headlines but for different reasons. Whereas clickbait headlines are a form of “deception,” catchy phrases in headlines are not. The commercial media also uses statistical data differently from scholars, often misleading the public by drawing spurious conclusions or using hyperbole to interpret the results. For example, recent headlines show that the use of the word “epidemic” is itself becoming an epidemic: with an “epidemic of gun violence,” an “opioid epidemic,” an “epidemic surveillance of Hajj pilgrims,” and a “prison epidemic” all being reported in one Google search. With no established parameters for what constitutes an “epidemic,” irresponsible reporters can use this term. Even though the widespread abuse of prescription opioids is a problem, there is no need for Lopez (2017) to use the inflammatory term “epidemic” just to get readers to click on the article (p. 1). The commercial media sometimes does a good job of reporting on current events in science without resorting to clickbait, but readers have a responsibility to learn media literacy.

There are times it may be more appropriate to rely on media-reported science and other times when it is more appropriate to rely on peer-reviewed scientific results. The media reports science using plain language, whereas peer-reviewed journal articles frequently use jargon that can be difficult for many people to understand. The primary difference between communication of scientific results in the scientific community in peer-reviewed journals and news media reporting is that the latter uses plain language and also broadly summarizes the results of a study. The media can influence the decisions that consumers make regarding everything from medication purchases to lifestyle choices.

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References

Hamblin, J. (2014). It’s everywhere, the clickbait. The Atlantic. Retrieved online: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/clickbait-what-is/382545/

Lopez, G. (2017). The opioid epidemic, explained. Vox. Retrieved online: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/3/16079772/opioid-epidemic-drug-overdoses

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R.M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Discussion 2

Influenza or “the flu” is an illness caused by a virus. However, there is more than one strain of the flu virus, making it difficult to treat or prevent effectively. Antibiotics are not effective against influenza because antibiotics primarily target bacteria, whereas the flu is viral. Therefore, antiviral drugs may be helpful in some cases or for some people (CDC, n.d.). A vaccination against the flu can be an effective prophylactic, but there are different types of flu virus and the virus does evolve to adapt to human resistance. Therefore, regular vaccinations based on the latest research on emerging flu strains, taking into account factors like evolving viral resistance. The common cold is different, and my main strategy for preventing a cold is common sense including maintaining a healthy immune system and washing my hands regularly, avoiding people who are sick. A source that supports my views on the common cold and influenza is put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, n.d.), which is a reliable source of information even if it is not itself a scientific journal.
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