To get a deeper sense of this real-life situation (the link between MMR vaccine and autism), read these text sources (Remember - this is not a memory test - you just need to get to grips with some of the details):
A summary of the MMR controversy
More info about the UK test case
More info about the science involved
And watch these videos:
The conspiracy and the trial
The debate about vaccines
Links between govt and drug companies
Think about the ideas we discussed in class about the link between the MMR vaccine and autism. What do you believe?
In a blog post, write an opinion piece on this issue, addressing the following questions:
1. What is one key argument or knowledge claim?
2. What evidence supports this claim?
3. What evidence challenges this claim?
4. How is your confidence in a knowledge claim affected by understanding the type/quality/reliability of the evidence?
Once you've gathered your thoughts a bit by writing your opinion piece, return to the discussion forums.
Optional extras:
Check out this video (it may influence your beliefs…): Ted.com
And the vids we watched in class:
1st clip of Dr Andrew Wakefield
Living with autism
Links between vaccine and autism
