No Analysis of the Systematic Bad Science Just Individual Irrationality

kieranosullivan

I attended the Skeptics Conference on Saturday and the speakers were generally very impressive.

However I was disappointed that there was no discussion on Systamatic bad science. What I mean is that all the dicsussion was about individual irrationality not.

There was no discussion on the influence which things like share price concerns and prfit margins affect scientific results or even more importantly the type of research that is done.

More and more research is about producing marketable products. I would like to have seen at least one discussion on what affect profit motivaiton and share price affect research.

Tim Robbins

kieranosullivan wrote:

I attended the Skeptics Conference on Saturday and the speakers were generally very impressive.

However I was disappointed that there was no discussion on Systamatic bad science. What I mean is that all the dicsussion was about individual irrationality not.

There was no discussion on the influence which things like share price concerns and prfit margins affect scientific results or even more importantly the type of research that is done.

More and more research is about producing marketable products. I would like to have seen at least one discussion on what affect profit motivaiton and share price affect research.

Good point.
I have also heard anecdotes about what you mentioned. Might this be the problem, that the only evidence for what you describe is anecdotes?

Myksyk

The nature of bad science was mentioned in Brian Hughes' talk but I accept your point. In fact we have spoken for some time on having a talk on 'the enemy within' ... maybe we can do that soon. I agree it's an important topic.