Debunking Fake News: The Clash of Experts, Trust, and Truth in Modern Controversies

Controversy: Experts, Post-Truth and Fake News SOCI2013 (20 credits) Level: 2 (second-year) Taught: Spring 2021 Teaching pattern: Digital Lecture/Workshop On Moodle 10 sessions 2 hours Lecture Engagement Via MS Teams 10 sessions 1 hour Seminar Via MS Teams 10 sessions 1 hour Assessment: Essay 50% 2000 words Due 3pm 17 March Essay 50% 2000 words Due 3pm 19 May Module Convenor: Prof. Reiner Grundmann Contact Details: Office: Law & Social Sciences Building, Room B3 Tel: +44 (0) 115 95 15419 Email: reiner.grundmann@nottingham.ac.uk Contents Contents1 Welcome and Summary of Content2 Educational Aims2 Learning Outcomes2 Knowledge and Understanding2 Intellectual and Transferable Skills2 Professional/Practical Skills2 Transferable/Key Skills3 Module Evaluation and Feedback3 No Hidden Course Costs3 Weekly Schedule of Teaching4 Digital Lectures/Workshops4 Lecture Engagement Sessions4 Seminars4 Reading List4 Week 1: Introduction and Overview5 Week 2: Covid-196 Week 3: MMR vaccination7 Week 4: Animal experimentation8 Week 5: Smoking and health9 Week 6: Post Truth and Politics10 Week 7: Climate Change11 Week 8: Contested Illnesses13 Week 9: Patient activism13 Week 10 Revision15 Top Tips for Engagement!15 Assessment Questions/Format16 Assessment support16 Coursework Submission16 Procedure for submitting coursework16 Late submissions17 Extensions17 Checklist for coursework submission17 Academic integrity18 Welcome and Summary of Content This module will examine the role of experts and citizens in modern society, and their relation in public controversies where knowledge is contested. In many cases conflicting information circulates in the media and people do not know who to trust and what to believe. Should we listen to ‘the science’? We are allegedly living in a post-truth society where participants in polarized debates go as far as accusing each other of presenting fake news. Experts are supposed to provide neutral advice but often get drawn into the fray, too. We will examine selected case studies that allow us to better understand such controversies, and analyse them from a sociological angle. Educational Aims This module aims to ensure the students will: gain an appreciation of the role of controversies in societies, especially with regard to expert disagreements; be introduced to key concepts, theories and case studies; understand the ways in which expert knowledge is produced and mobilized in everyday practices, and in political decision making. Learning Outcomes Knowledge and Understanding A critical and reflexive understanding of the role of expertise; An understanding of the relationships between knowledge and decision making; An understanding of the ways in which expertise is distributed in society and what its role and function is; An appreciation of different forms of knowledge, such as lay knowledge and expertise, tacit knowledge, and scientific knowledge; An understanding what the notion of the knowledge society means Intellectual and Transferable Skills An ability to analyse, assess and present empirical information. An appreciation of the different conceptual frameworks and how they relate to the understanding of empirical examples. Professional/Practical Skills An ability to undertake and present work in a scholarly way; An ability to articulate with clarity and good understanding the formal and specialized language of their disciplines and fields of study; A recognition of the relevance of lay and expert knowledge to social and political debates. Transferable/Key Skills An ability to communicate effectively in both formal and informal group settings; An ability to read, assess and represent sophisticated written evidence and argument Module Evaluation and Feedback This is a new module and has no previous SEM scores. No Hidden Course Costs We are committed to ensuring that there are no hidden course costs associated with our programmes. There is no requirement for you to buy any books or pay for other resources/activities for this module. If you have issues accessing materials, please let the module convenor know as soon as possible. Weekly Schedule of Teaching Digital Lectures/Workshops All of these digital learning activities will be made available to you on Moodle and you will be expected to work through these at your own pace in advance of any real time teaching (see below). In this module, these include: recorded lectures, podcasts and videos, academic readings, news articles, and other materials. You will also find activities that will enable you to think in detail about the material and issues presented in those online resources. These will support your learning, and help you put it into practice through guided exercises or discussion. If you have any issues with accessing this digital learning, your Module Convenor may be able advise. Further advice and support on technical matters is available on your Student Information Hub (click to link) in the section on Blended Learning. Lecture Engagement Sessions These sessions are timetabled and will take place in real time on MS Teams. They are designed to offer you additional opportunities to ask questions about the digital learning activities above. You can also use this time to ask questions about assessments. Seminars These will take place in real time, either in-person or on MS Teams (please refer to your individual timetable). These will be further opportunities to refine your understanding of the digital learning activities above, through discussion of the materials and issues covered in them. These sessions are also intended to facilitate peer engagement and working with and learning from other students on the module. You need to read the set text for each seminar beforehand, and come prepared with your notes about the reading and ideas of how to answer the questions relating to the text. Please note that attendance registers will be taken, should you be unable to attend, please email the Module Convenor. If you need to change seminar session or mode of study (online/in person), please contact Student Services. Reading List All modules have an online reading list. Please refer to the TALIS ASPIRE (click here) list for all required and recommended readings and resources for this module. Week 1: Introduction and Overview We will start by trying to understand what role science and expertise plays in contemporary society, how their knowledge contributes to decision making and policies, and what their relationship is to the media, to politics, and to lay audiences. Common assumptions about the ability of scientists and experts to provide certain