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Yep, and "nothing" (as in "the effect of X on Y is zero") is a meaningful result, possibly a very important one, but being "nothing", it has a lot lower chance
by ajsnigrutin 5y ago
Yep, and "nothing" (as in "the effect of X on Y is zero") is a meaningful result, possibly a very important one, but being "nothing", it has a lot lower chance of actually getting published.
- Retric 5y agoThe issue is “nothing” is not sufficient to assume zero effect, it just means the effect wasn’t measured. Actual progress means trying to replicate both positive and negative results.
- ajsnigrutin 5y agoWell yeah, but if you're trying to "cure cancer", and in a (just made-up) theory an acidic environment should help with cancer, so you try lemon juice, and it shows that lemon juice cures as much cancer as placebo does, that seems publishable to me.