Astronomy clicker question: Drake equation anti-optimists

Astronomy 10, Spring Semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Astronomy 10 learning goal F.2

Students were asked the following clicker question (Classroom Performance System, einstruction.com) in the middle of their learning cycle.

[0.3 points.] The Drake equation may predict that the Milky Way has many advanced technological civilizations. Which argument against this extremely optimistic result do you consider most valid?
(A) If there are supposed to be so many of them, then why aren't they here (yet)?
(B) Our advanced technological civilization on Earth arose due to an extraordinary number of highly unlikely coincidences and conditions.
(C) Since are no simple explanations as to why there would be zero contact from many other advanced technological civilizations (if they do exist), they do not exist.
(D) (More than one of the above arguments.)

Correct answer: (none; opinion only)

Each of these arguments was explained to the class before this question was asked. Item (A) is Fermi's Paradox; (B) is the Rare Earth Hypothesis; (C) is Occam's Razor (which is related to Fermi's Paradox). Students were instructed to choose the argument they considered the most valid, and only to select (D) if they were willing to talk about which of these arguments they considered equally valid.

Student responses
Section 4160
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 23 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 0 students

Section 5166
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 27 students
(C) : 12 students
(D) : 6 students