A pseudoscience is defined by the set of beliefs, theories, and practices that have been or are deemed scientific, although they have no ground in research rigor and fact. This may imply that the ideas were scientifically disproved, cannot be tested by research, or do not have enough evidence as support (Breakwell, Wright, & Barnett, 2021). Because the term is the most often used with a negative connotation when characterizing research, one insinuates that the topic being studied is not based on scientific findings, thus lacking reliability. An activity or belief is considered pseudoscientific when the proponents of that movement claim it to be accurate and present ‘statistics’ or ‘facts’ that are hearsay rather than actual scientifically-derived data. Therefore, the opinion as to the reliability of pseudoscience is based on subjective viewpoints and cannot be supported by evidence.
A major concern associated with pseudoscience is misinformation and the representations of theories or beliefs as facts. Because of the increased popularity of some pseudoscience categories, and the spreading of varied articles online, it is important not to allow the general public to see it as real science as the spreading of false or unverified information could lead to unfavorable consequences. An example of a pseudoscientific activity or belief is astrology, which implies the belief that the position of the earth and other planets have an influence on the everyday behaviors of people. Even though the discipline has a long history and there are technological aspects that astrology considers in its ‘research,’ such as planetary movements or time and geography, there is no way to scientifically prove that human behaviors depend on the way in which celestial bodies move and change.
Reference
Breakwell, G., Wright, D., & Barnett, J. (2021). Research methods in psychology (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.