Questioning Prejudice and Superstition

The work suggested in this Nuffield Working with Science unit helps students to understand the scientific method of testing ideas when it is impossible to do controlled experiments. They see the need for factual evidence to support ideas and statements. The unit focuses upon science as a way of testing. The knowledge to be acquired by the students is concerned with sampling, fair testing, ways of handling data, 'chance, correlation and significance in results.

Guidance for teachers and technicians appears in Teachers’ Notes A.

The unit was revised and republished for the CPVE edition of the project in the 1980s. Guidance for this version appears in the Tutors’ Handbook.

Contents of the first edition
Introduction
Section 1 Handwriting
Section 2 Superstition - horoscopes
Section 3 Prejudice - speech and dialect
Section 4 Prejudice - clothes and appearance
Section 5 Prejudice - food knowledge component may need to be assessed.

Contents of the CPVE edition
Introduction
Section 1 Handwriting
Section 2 Superstition - horoscopes
Section 3 Prejudice - clothes and appearance
Section 4 Prejudice - food