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Researchers taking on fraudulent science

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Re: Researchers taking on fraudulent science

#4
I really hope these people gain wider support. They seem so anti-establishment, which implies that the establishment is pro fraud. And that sounds about right to me.

This is a huge problem. When fraud is rewarded over legitimate research we lose so many times. Once when we reward the fraud, again when the fraudulent research is propagated into the corpus, again when we recognize that this has squelched legitimate scientific research in exchange for resources being sent to the fraud. And finally when trust in science falters.

There's every chance that the next great scientist is flipping burgers at McDonald's.

The problem is much bigger than anyone wants to admit. In some domains a coin flip is just as good as relying on peer reviewed research.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replication_crisis

Re: Researchers taking on fraudulent science

#5
post #3

I feel the article needs to put forward more evidence that it is an epidemic. It looks just as likely that science has had systematic problems for a long time and abuses have always been rife.

> Last year, more than 10,000 research papers were retracted, marking an all-time high.

They haven't even made a case that it is at an all-time high as a rate of anything. The article also says that output has spiked.

Re: Researchers taking on fraudulent science

#6

I really hope these people gain wider support. They seem so anti-establishment, which implies that the establishment is pro fraud. And that sounds about right to me. This is a huge problem. When fraud is rewarded over legitimate research we lose so many times. Once when we reward the fraud, again when the fraudulent research is propagated into the corpus, again when we recognize that this has squelched legitimate sci…

They seem anti-establishment, because you need an anti-establishment attitude to do investigative work like that. If you are the average conformist, you are happy to work within the system, focusing on your personal goals.

Re: Researchers taking on fraudulent science

#7
post #3

I feel the article needs to put forward more evidence that it is an epidemic. It looks just as likely that science has had systematic problems for a long time and abuses have always been rife.

If you’re not in it you don’t see it but after seeing sufficiently faked fluorescence studies I believe nothing. On the Internet some expert HN user will tell you how “it’s worth noting that there is some evidence” and it’s probably some faked science on photoshopped fluorescence study. Useless crap in a worm. And it’s not even real.

But you can’t tell anyone this because they’ll circle the wagons. “Oh yeah, you think science is blah blah blah”.

Re: Researchers taking on fraudulent science

#8

I really hope these people gain wider support. They seem so anti-establishment, which implies that the establishment is pro fraud. And that sounds about right to me. This is a huge problem. When fraud is rewarded over legitimate research we lose so many times. Once when we reward the fraud, again when the fraudulent research is propagated into the corpus, again when we recognize that this has squelched legitimate sci…

>This is a huge problem. When fraud is rewarded over legitimate research we lose so many times.

I’d generalize this further and say we have an underlying economy and society that rewards fraud over what should be happening widespread. It’s happening everywhere and lying seems to be one of the best strategies to success. With competitive pressures increasing, it’s often even worth the risk. This may have always been the case but the population at large seems to be more cognizant of it and taking action on it. Politics, business, everywhere deceit is rampant. It may in some cases be “allowed” forms of lying or skirting around the truth but underlying behavior is the same here: avoiding the truth for one’s own self gain. There’s few if any establishments I trust anymore. I just assume everyone everywhere is lying for their own goals.

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