BAD SCIENCE: HOW BAD SCIENCE, COGNITIVE ERRORS & MARKETING INFLUENCE HEALTH DECISIONS
ALH1BAD
2014
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject students will explore why many implausible and ineffective health products and treatments become popular, and how cognitive errors may influence health decisions. In an age of science and reason, why do health fads come and go, with predictable regularity? Why are ineffective treatments chosen and effective ones rejected? Students will explore a range of phenomena that contribute to people making surprising, and sometimes harmful, health-related decisions. This fully online subject empowers students to question health fads and examine the role of 'bad' science, marketing and cognitive errors in health-related beliefs and decisions.
Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Enrolment numbers will be checked after semester 1 census date and the subject offering for that year withdrawn if enrolments are less than 40. Students will be informed at that point to give them enough time to enrol in an alternative subject.
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Know your chances | Recommended | Woloshin, S, Schwartz, LM & Gilbert Welch, H 2008 | HTTP://WWW.JAMESLINDLIBRARY.ORG/ |
| Readings | Making sense of health advice | Recommended | Irwig, L, Irwig, J, Trevena, L & Sweet, M 2007 | 2ND EDN, HTTP://SYDNEY.EDU.AU/MEDICINE/PUBLIC-HEALTH/SHDG/RESOURCES/SMART_HEALTH_CHOICES.PHP |
| Readings | Testing treatments: better research for better healthcare | Recommended | Evans I, Thornton, H & Chalmers, I 2006 | HTTP://WWW.JAMESLINDLIBRARY.ORG/ |
Albury-Wodonga, 2014, Semester 1, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Albury-Wodonga, 2014, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Bendigo, 2014, Semester 1, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Bendigo, 2014, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Melbourne, 2014, Semester 1, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Melbourne, 2014, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Mildura, 2014, Semester 1, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Mildura, 2014, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Shepparton, 2014, Semester 1, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |
Shepparton, 2014, Semester 2, Online
Overview
Online enrolment: No
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Megan Davidson
Class requirements
Scheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours scheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Please note that weekly learning activities are done at a time of your choice, there are no scheduled classes. Online learning package with a total 39 hours of online learning modules, discussion and activities equivalent to a two-hour lecture and 1-hour tutorial per week."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| Active engagement in online activities and discussion | Full marks requires regular active engagement, which means participating in the online activities, posting original contributions and commenting on or replying to facilitator and other student posts. | 20 |
| Draft assignment (1000 words) | 20 | |
| Final assignment (2000 words) | 40 | |
| Two 15-minute online quizzes | 20 |