Context, Calibration and Causation, the Three Cs That Demystify Science and Enable Better Descision Making

Abstract

Social science is increasingly demonstrating that throwing more facts into an argument where the parties already have a developed viewpoint is a redundant exercise. New “Facts” that support an individual’s argument will be adopted but where the facts don’t support the existing viewpoint they are discarded, discounted or otherwise manipulated until they may be seen to support that viewpoint.This behaviour explains many of the challenges that the nuclear industry and other technology industries have had in trying to be understood.Equipping people to analyze information and to critically think about the issues may be a more constructive approach. The 3Cs approach of, Context, Calibration and Causation provides some simple tools to enable that critical thinking and could become a useful tool in the nuclear communicator’s toolbox.