The denizens of APS should score well on the Pew Research test of basic science

[MillCreek]

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/how-much-do-you-know-about-science

I scored 100%

[HankB]

100% too.

Simple stuff . . . anything less than 100 percent would be embarrassing if you passed third grade.

[lee n. field]

Not difficult.

[Brad Johnson]

100%.

I'm genuinely appalled by the raft of respondents in the 30-40% range. That level of ignorance in basic sciences is truly disturbing.

Brad

[41magsnub]

How could anyone miss any of those that graduated Junior High?

[charby]

Not difficult.

I couldn't remember the name of the person who created the Polio vaccine but I knew what the other three people where known for.

[Perd Hapley]

Woo-hoo!

The vast majority of participants, totaling 3,278 adults, were able to answer the easy questions, like the core is Earth’s hottest layer (86%) and correctly identifying a comet (78%). And it’s definitely a relief to know that 73% knew the difference between astronomy, the legitimate field of science, and astrology...The two questions respondents struggled the most with were how high altitude affects water boiling (only 34% guessed correctly), and what determines loudness in a soundwave (35%, and it’s amplitude by the way).

I was using educated guesses on those two questions, and I guessed correctly. I knew the boiling point is different, but I was afeared I might have gotten it switched about. I wasn't sure about the loudness of a sound wave, either.

[Perd Hapley]

How could anyone miss any of those that graduated Junior High?

   Do you really expect most people in non-mountainous areas to remember which way the boiling point thing works in Denver? From junior high? Seriously? Not to mention something as obscure as how hot it is at the earth's core.

[41magsnub]

   Do you really expect most people in non-mountainous areas to remember which way the boiling point thing works in Denver? From junior high? Seriously? Not to mention something as obscure as how hot it is at the earth's core.

Well, the answer to the Denver thing is on the back of every box of mac and cheese!

[bedlamite]

Why is astrology considered science?

[HankB]

Why is astrology considered science?

It's on a par with modern psychiatry?

[Ben]

Why is astrology considered science?

Yeah, that was more of a "social science" question.

Easy test. Other than it took me a minute to get to it.

[K Frame]

0% or 100%.

Unfortunately, in order to determine which a cat might have to die.

[AmbulanceDriver]

0% or 100%.

Unfortunately, in order to determine which a cat might have to die.

You say that like it's a bad thing......

[MechAg94]

I couldn't remember the name of the person who created the Polio vaccine but I knew what the other three people where known for.

Same here.  Fleming came to mind, but that was penicillin.  That is what makes multiple choice tests too easy.  Most of it was just basic science stuff. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Fleming

[MechAg94]

0% or 100%.

Unfortunately, in order to determine which a cat might have to die.

If I take the test multiple times, does that mean multiple cats die or just the same one dying and coming back?

[BlueStarLizzard]

Woo-hoo!


I was using educated guesses on those two questions, and I guessed correctly. I knew the boiling point is different, but I was afeared I might have gotten it switched about. I wasn't sure about the loudness of a sound wave, either.

The boiling point I got switched around. I knew I answered backwards before the next page loaded.
I honestly got the magnifying glass question wrong. *shrug*

I'm not sure how so many got the sound thing wrong, since the correct answer has the answer built in (amplified... Louder)

I couldn't remember the name of the person who created the Polio vaccine but I knew what the other three people where known for.

Which would be why it's a good question. Process of elimination and I bet you know what the other three are famous for.

As far as the astrology question goes, it's not any kind of science (much less a social science) the question was gauged to determine how well people know what feild of study is what. It's another "trick" question. I'll bet a lot of the people who get that wrong don't no the difference between that and astronomy.

[cordex]

Yep, easy. The correct answer distributions were interesting.

[Perd Hapley]

Well, the answer to the Denver thing is on the back of every box of mac and cheese!

You think people read directions? 

[vaskidmark]

Dear sweet shivering Shiva on a trampoline juggling chainsaws!

It's not that I actually knew the answer before I looked at the question asked, but that there are folks that get more than 2 (magnifying glass refraction and temp water boils at in Denver vs LA) wrong.

I used to teach "How to take a multiple-choice test".  It was nice to see so many of you were listening instead of throwing spitballs in class.

stay safe.

[Ben]

Yep, easy. The correct answer distributions were interesting.

Maybe the old guy memory loss is kicking in, but I don't recall being asked my race at the end, just gender and age. Yet the distributions had three (why only three?) races listed.

[cordex]

Maybe the old guy memory loss is kicking in, but I don't recall being asked my race at the end, just gender and age. Yet the distributions had three (why only three?) races listed.

They just used your computer's camera. 

The results were from the actual survey, not the Internet version.

[Hawkmoon]

100% too.

Simple stuff . . . anything less than 100 percent would be embarrassing if you passed third grade.

Agreed.

Also 100%.

[Hawkmoon]

As far as the astrology question goes, it's not any kind of science (much less a social science) the question was gauged to determine how well people know what feild of study is what. It's another "trick" question. I'll bet a lot of the people who get that wrong don't no the difference between that and astronomy.

Trivia for the day: The science known today as astronomy is derived from the ancient study of astrology. In ancient times, man had no reason to study the motion and relative positions of heavenly bodies except for astrological purposes.

[Perd Hapley]

Trivia for the day: The science known today as astronomy is derived from the ancient study of astrology. In ancient times, man had no reason to study the motion and relative positions of heavenly bodies except for astrological purposes.

  That didn't take long.

Are you saying that having a calendar was an astrological purpose? Or that navigation was an astrological purpose? Or probably a number of other things I'm leaving out?