4 ms·

>there is hardly any authentic science left I'm sorry, but what? You list a half dozen of the hottest-button research areas, but those represent (with the exce

by cmsmith 10y ago

>there is hardly any authentic science left I'm sorry, but what? You list a half dozen of the hottest-button research areas, but those represent (with the exception of pharma) probably less than 2-3% of non-proprietary research. The rest of the iceberg is just normal scientists working on hard problems that aren't going to make anyone rich, and scraping by on whatever money they can find. And keeping the 'science=corrupt' idea out there doesn't make it any easier.

Chinjut 10y ago
In their defense, they did note "publish or perish" as a "system of perverse incentives", which presumably affects a far broader swath of science than the few politicized topics they mentioned.
dluan 10y ago
Would you like me to list more? The point isn't hot button topics, like gun control research, GMOs, transportation, etc, the point is that it's a feedback loop. The system is set up so that the rich get richer. The top 20 research institutions by NIH grant funding (representing 0.7% of receiving inst.) haven't changed in decades, combined receiving 20%+ of total grants [1], meanwhile the bottom is dropping out. The reason why the NFL (or gun lobby, or energy lobby, or whatever button topic you want) go to those particular universities or researchers is because of their publishing clout, making it more likely for their findings to be accepted, making it more likely that they'll receive more grants. [1] http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/the-top-50-nih-funded-universities-of-2014/77900233/?page=2 http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/the-top-5... [2] http://grantome.com/blog/rich-getting-richer http://grantome.com/blog/rich-getting-richer
Retric 10y ago
Hot button issues, like toxicity, health care, education, evolution, weight loss, endangered species, sleep, habitat, oral hygiene, etc. Just about anything related to either people, land, products, processes, faith, or stuff has someone who would like to influence the results. Even if it's simply do the experiment 100 times until you get the result you want. Or just quietly pull the plug when it's not going the way you hope. There are many ways to manipulate even honest research done in good faith.
- dexterdog 10y ago
  If you do the experiment until you get the result you want you are never doing it in good faith.
  - Retric 10y ago
    This assumes only one group gets funded. Bad actor A vs 100 grad students or whatever. Alternatively, same experiment with slightly different formula.
ams6110 10y ago
Senior scientists spend a lot of their day chasing grant funding and you better believe they tailor their proposals and research to the goals of the organization that is funding the grant.

by cmsmith 10y ago

Chinjut 10y ago

In their defense, they did note "publish or perish" as a "system of perverse incentives", which presumably affects a far broader swath of science than the few politicized topics they mentioned.

dluan 10y ago

Would you like me to list more? The point isn't hot button topics, like gun control research, GMOs, transportation, etc, the point is that it's a feedback loop. The system is set up so that the rich get richer. The top 20 research institutions by NIH grant funding (representing 0.7% of receiving inst.) haven't changed in decades, combined receiving 20%+ of total grants [1], meanwhile the bottom is dropping out. The reason why the NFL (or gun lobby, or energy lobby, or whatever button topic you want) go to those particular universities or researchers is because of their publishing clout, making it more likely for their findings to be accepted, making it more likely that they'll receive more grants. [1] http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/the-top-50-nih-funded-universities-of-2014/77900233/?page=2 http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/the-top-5... [2] http://grantome.com/blog/rich-getting-richer http://grantome.com/blog/rich-getting-richer

Retric 10y ago

Hot button issues, like toxicity, health care, education, evolution, weight loss, endangered species, sleep, habitat, oral hygiene, etc. Just about anything related to either people, land, products, processes, faith, or stuff has someone who would like to influence the results. Even if it's simply do the experiment 100 times until you get the result you want. Or just quietly pull the plug when it's not going the way you hope. There are many ways to manipulate even honest research done in good faith.

dexterdog 10y ago
If you do the experiment until you get the result you want you are never doing it in good faith.
- Retric 10y ago
  This assumes only one group gets funded. Bad actor A vs 100 grad students or whatever. Alternatively, same experiment with slightly different formula.

ams6110 10y ago

Senior scientists spend a lot of their day chasing grant funding and you better believe they tailor their proposals and research to the goals of the organization that is funding the grant.