Misconceptions & Reasoning
📋 What it is
Common traps: a “theory” isn’t a guess, correlation isn’t cause, and one study isn’t proof.
🗣️ Coach says
Watch for reasoning traps. A scientific “theory” is a well-tested explanation, NOT a hunch. Two things happening together doesn’t mean one caused the other. And a single study is a clue, not a final answer. Careful reasoning is as important as the experiment itself.
🧠 Memory hook
Theory ≠ guess. Together ≠ caused. One study ≠ proof.
😂 Giggle
I'm the group in an experiment that doesn't receive any treatment — I exist so scientists can compare the results. What am I?
The control group!
😲 Whoa!
Ice cream sales and shark attacks both rise in summer — but ice cream doesn’t cause shark attacks; the hidden cause is warm weather (more swimmers).
✅ Quick check: Someone says “I ate more ice cream and got more sunburns, so ice cream causes sunburn.” What’s the flaw?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Correlation isn’t cause — a hidden factor (sunny weather) drives both; the ice cream didn’t cause the sunburn.
Two things rising together can share a hidden common cause.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Find two things that rise together (jackets and hot drinks in winter) and name the hidden cause behind both.