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Fraud Growing in Scientific Research Papers
Scientific Computing ^ | October 10,2012 | Seth Borenstein

Posted on 10/10/2012 6:32:38 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

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Nothing new here.

Most scientific papers are probably wrong

1 posted on 10/10/2012 6:32:42 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The corrupting influence of ill-gotten government money.


2 posted on 10/10/2012 6:38:19 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It tends to propagate through the system, as papers are quoted in future papers, ad infinitum.


3 posted on 10/10/2012 6:40:58 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
... 96 retractions per million in 2007...

What will the count be when "anthropogenic global warming" becomes recognized as the fraud that it is?

4 posted on 10/10/2012 6:42:32 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I can see how this article might apply to medical research (including psychology, which I don’t consider to be a “science”) but I’m not so sure it would apply very well to something like chemistry which doesn’t rely heavily on statistics.


5 posted on 10/10/2012 6:48:02 AM PDT by JoeDetweiler
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

People are paid taxpayer money to produce so called “scientific” papers that no one reads or uses. Most of these awards are made based on political considerations, friendships or connections to people close to the money pipeline. None of this has anything to do with real science.

The results of these studies are often predetermined. They are expected to support the politically correct worldview.

The scientific community in America is becoming politicized and corrupted. Michael Mann is just one example. There is little enforcement of scientific integrity.

Science research has become political. It has become fraudulent. It has become corrupt.


6 posted on 10/10/2012 6:59:16 AM PDT by detective
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

As a scientist I have seen numerous instances of plagarism usually from scientists in foreign countries. For example my Ph.D. advisor showed me an article published in an Indian scientific journal that was a direct copy of one of his papers except for the authors names. I have personally received manuscripts for review where entire paragraphs were lifted out of my papers. As far as fraud numerous times I have talked to professors who are unable to reproduce promising experiments done by foreign students who graduate and then return to their home countries. I cant prove they faked their data to graduate but I have strong suspicions.


7 posted on 10/10/2012 7:01:39 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (We won't stand for biased umps fixing a ball game but we allow a biased media to fix elections.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
James Hansen should be prosecuted, tarred and feathered.
8 posted on 10/10/2012 7:13:47 AM PDT by EKTACHROME (meh)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude
I cant prove they faked their data to graduate but I have strong suspicions.

Results that cannot be reliably and consistently reproduced using valid methodology should be viewed with some measure of skepticism, as it indicates either fraud (faked data) or sloppy methods. This is one aspect of the scientific method I have been taught. In either case, it is a black mark against both the author of the study, the adviser, and the institution that granted the degree. There have been cases where degrees have been withdrawn when fraud has come to light. Credibility and reputation is everything to anyone who purports to be a scientist. Or so I am told.

9 posted on 10/10/2012 7:16:49 AM PDT by chimera
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To: chimera

“Results that cannot be reliably and consistently reproduced using valid methodology should be viewed with some measure of skepticism, as it indicates either fraud (faked data) or sloppy methods.”

Absolutely. I dont think someone should graduate until another student reproduces at least part of what you’ve done. That wont happen because people are too busy on their own projects.


10 posted on 10/10/2012 7:26:58 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (We won't stand for biased umps fixing a ball game but we allow a biased media to fix elections.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Fraud in scientific research, while still rare

Starts off with a fraud.

11 posted on 10/10/2012 7:31:24 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again,)
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To: skeeter
The corrupting influence of ill-gotten government money.

It's nothing new. It was this way back when I was in college in the 70's.

Science is now a business. The scientist who reports results that make it more likely he will get future grants will be more secure in his university, more likely to get tenure, and more wealthy.

12 posted on 10/10/2012 7:37:35 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Charlie Daniels - Payback Time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWwTJj_nosI)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

“As a scientist I have seen numerous instances of plagarism usually from scientists in foreign countries.”

...and then there is the pressure to add the names of others to your research papers so they can fake their research accomplishments. I’ve seen this at two universities where the pressure is put on the junior faculty. That is fraudulent. There is also the fraud associated with “blind peer review” where the field of scholars is small and everyone can readily tell who wrote and who is reviewing a research paper submitted for publication. That could result in exclusion of papers by those who want to control the publication pipeline. There is also fraud in other areas of science and I suspect, considering the quality of measurement and the claims made, that a lot of data should be examined for integrity.


13 posted on 10/10/2012 7:40:51 AM PDT by iacovatx (Conservatism is the political center--it is not "right" of center)
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To: JoeDetweiler
The media rarely makes the distinction between life sciences and physical sciences because its correspondents are ignorant of the difference and because they are loathe to attribute anything that would contribute any modicum of value or substance to American society.

They are predominantly the enemy of America, and they consistently side with anyone else who would denigrate and destroy by nature: islamists, communists, anarchists, of which our so-called president is the prime example and instigator.

14 posted on 10/10/2012 7:40:58 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: iacovatx

“...and then there is the pressure to add the names of others to your research papers so they can fake their research accomplishments. I’ve seen this at two universities where the pressure is put on the junior faculty. That is fraudulent.”

I work at an industrial research lab and have had people want to add my name to their papers even though I only had a very minor role in their study. I always refuse which surprises the heck out of some. Same is true on patent applications. Some do it to be polite, others because it might help to have someone’s name on their patent/pub.


15 posted on 10/10/2012 7:52:03 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (We won't stand for biased umps fixing a ball game but we allow a biased media to fix elections.)
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To: onedoug

“The media rarely makes the distinction between life sciences and physical sciences because its correspondents are ignorant of the difference and because they are loathe to attribute anything that would contribute any modicum of value or substance to American society.”

I dont understand your point.


16 posted on 10/10/2012 8:00:53 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (We won't stand for biased umps fixing a ball game but we allow a biased media to fix elections.)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

Data from physical sciences, ie, physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, are harder to gin-up as their fundamentals are generally more rigorous than say, anthropolology, sociology, climatology and even basic biology, to the extent that their conclusions may be subject to greater degrees of interpretation.

The weather tomorrow, for example, is more statiscally viable than is a long term climate model from someone perhaps with an axe to grind.


17 posted on 10/10/2012 9:11:33 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: onedoug

“Scientific Research Papers, onedoug wrote:
Data from physical sciences, ie, physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, are harder to gin-up as their fundamentals are generally more rigorous than say, anthropolology, sociology, climatology and even basic biology...”

You might be surprized at how rigorous modern biological research has become.


18 posted on 10/10/2012 9:59:45 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (We won't stand for biased umps fixing a ball game but we allow a biased media to fix elections.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

When there’s ‘politically correct’ scientific research - and large sums of money on the table - corruption becomes a natural...


19 posted on 10/10/2012 10:00:21 AM PDT by GOPJ (You only establish a feel for the line by having crossed it. - - Freeper One Name)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

“I work at an industrial research lab and have had people want to add my name to their papers ...”

Thanks for noting this happens outside academic institutions, too, although it seems to be for different motives.
When I see this behavior—pressuring someone to add a name to a publication—it is often the case that the person applying the pressure couldn’t research his or her way out of a paper bag.


20 posted on 10/10/2012 12:06:37 PM PDT by iacovatx (Conservatism is the political center--it is not "right" of center)
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