Question

Vincent graduated from college with a degree in horticulture and now owns a local plant nursery. He maintains a blog titled, "How to Live a Happy Life,” and writes that people can lead happier lives by varying the routes they usually take home from work.

Which statement best evaluates this claim?

This claim is scientific because it is based on Vincent’s personal experience.
This claim is scientific because other people have taken his advice and are now happier.
This claim may not be accurate because the blog is produced by someone who is not an expert in the field of human psychology.
This claim may not be accurate because most people follow the same route home.

Answer 1

"This claim may not be accurate because the blog is produced by someone who is not an expert in the field of human psychology."

Reason: Vincent’s personal experience or others’ anecdotal reports do not constitute scientific evidence. The claim requires systematic, controlled study (clear definitions of “happier,” objective measures, adequate sample size, controls for confounding factors) to be considered scientifically supported. The fact that the author is not a psychology expert doesn’t prove the claim false, but it does warrant skepticism in the absence of proper evidence. Options 1 and 2 confuse anecdote with science; option 4 is irrelevant to whether the claim is true.