Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix That?

Re:Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix T... by davidgerard on Sunday December 20, 2015 @08:46PM (#10769123)

Speaking to scientists I know, quite a lot of the problem is university press offices. The bullshit articles start as bullshit press releases, bearing little resemblance to any actual facts in the original paper (or arXiv preprint). Not sure of a way around this one.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix T... by capnrefsmmat on Sunday December 20, 2015 @10:17PM (#10769374)

There is research backing this up: http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g7015

They conclude that "Exaggeration in news is strongly associated with exaggeration in press releases. Improving the accuracy of academic press releases could represent a key opportunity for reducing misleading health related news."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix T... by danieltillett on Sunday December 20, 2015 @09:07PM (#10769182)

The solution is requiring the scientist to approve the press release before it goes out and having the power to force errors to be corrected.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix T... by davidgerard on Monday December 21, 2015 @08:38AM (#10770993)

Well yes, but this ignores all power relations and incentives involved. The press offices aren't sending out BS press releases for the sake of it, they're sending them out to get the university's name positive press; and the university has all the power over the scientists.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Is So Much Reported Science Wrong, and What Can Fix T... by lvs on Sunday December 20, 2015 @09:17PM (#10769222)

This is accurate. The corporatization of academics is a significant part of the problem.

[ Parent | on HN ]