Healthy skepticism and a bit of effort is essential to avoid believing bad science.
Entertaining Guide to Bad Science Journalism
by cofty 6 Replies latest social current
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KateWild
Great vid cofty. If you haven't read it yet Ben Goldacre wrote a book called bad science.
He highlighted the points about control groups and that research without control groups was Bad Science.
Kate xx
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cofty
hi Kate. Thanks for the heads-up on that book. My list keeps growing ......
Interesting point that even well conducted studies need to be replicated independently but there is just very little funding for that.
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OneEyedJoe
My father in law needs to watch that. There's one public talk outline that he gives often and always opens with "so can anyone tell me - is coffee good for you or bad for you this week?" Then goes on to use morning show science reporting as evidence that science is unreliable. The (laughable) contrast is then drawn with Jehovah/the cult in an assertion that it's consistent and reliable.
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OneGenTwoGroups
John Oliver's show is my favorite right now. Ok, Game of Thrones is, but his show is a real close second. -
Phizzy
I like most of your Posts Cofty, but this one has destroyed one of my main tricks, to, as Oliver says " Cherry pick the studies that justify what you were going to do anyway".
Mind, you, Mrs Phizzy has already called me on this, saying, " Any "study" that says Beer, Wine and Sex are good for you , you believe 100%, anything else you ignore."
Ben Goldacre's book, based on his long running Guardian column of the same name, is a must read for all us amateurs.
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cofty
Eminent Scientist Reveals "Beer, Wine and Sex are Good for You"