Some misinformation can be classified as disinformation: deliberately designed to deceive. One of the primary strategies is to cherry-pick real data and provide a plausible -- but ultimately flawed -- argument. It all seems so reasonable and justified -- at least to the non-expert, who cannot sort fact from faux. So the unsuspecting consumer does not even bother with fact-checking! Only experts will notice how the evidence is incomplete or the argument misleading (based on false assumptions or disregard for alternative explanations). Through several examples to "test your wits," this activity helps students realize why they need experts to rescue them from "The Plausibility Trap."

This activity leads naturally to the "Inquiry into Expertise" and/or the "Institutional Tour."

Download   PPT  ||  PDF

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Background Reading

Osborne. J. 2024. Just because it’s plausible doesn’t mean it’s true. The Science Teacher.

Further Reading

Allchin, D. 2022. Who speaks for science? Science & Education.