Science: How to fake it.

I was about to post this in Spirituality but then I thought maybe it should go here.

http://madartlab.com/2011/03/24/faking-it/

Anyone got any real-world examples of this that we can roll our eyes at? I suppose Wakefield's vaccine/autism study might be a prime example but I don't know the details of what process was actually followed in that case.

--- Penguin.

Originally posted by Penguin
I was about to post this in Spirituality but then I thought maybe it should go here.

http://madartlab.com/2011/03/24/faking-it/

Anyone got any real-world examples of this that we can roll our eyes at? I suppose Wakefield's vaccine/autism study might be a prime example but I don't know the details of what process was actually followed in that case.

--- Penguin.

Apart from every single dieting fad, cosmetic cream and washing powder advertisement out there, you mean? Well, you could do worse than start with the Sokal and SCIgen affairs and investigate from there.

Richard

http://www.badscience.net/2006/10/how-to-read-a-paper-for-journalists/

always a favourite.

there are a couple of good essays written on the topic which if followed correctly with some knowledge of statistics and the topic should kill any fake paper.

for the record I reckon that any paper on ordinary objects bringing luck would be a good one for the behavioural psychologists.