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Scientific literacy is at an all-time low (or rather it's being leveraged at an all -time high), with Reddit and TikTok regurgitating "Study finds .. " articles
by leoqa 2y ago
Scientific literacy is at an all-time low (or rather it's being leveraged at an all -time high), with Reddit and TikTok regurgitating "Study finds .. " articles without linking the study nor doing due diligence on the results. The amount of non-reproducible studies on child development, child attachment are wreaking havoc on well-meaning parents being influenced by group think.
For example, the APA does a pretty good job posting recommendations and citing sources. Those sources often lead back to studies with ~2k data points, often meta-analysis or in a single area, or from a past era that is no longer relevant.
The recommendation that mothers must exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months is built on many studies that seem rather small or homogenous, and yet this recommendation is treated as if it is a prescription that must be followed. Try bringing up this nuanced argument with an exhausted mother who is "failing" to breastfeed a starving baby.
- richwater 2y agoYou can take this problem and multiply it 10x when talking about psychology and child/teen mental health.
- sumtechguy 2y ago> Try bringing up this nuanced argument with an exhausted mother who is "failing" to breastfeed a starving baby. That would be an emotional problem. 'Do you want your kid to starve or do you want to make sure you follow some scientific paper that may or may not be right?' Framing is everything. They used emotional manipulation to get people to pay attention to them. It works both ways.
- BlueTemplar 2y agoI would be the first to agree that social media platforms are evil, but now I'm curious, didn't a very similar thing happen with the yellow/local press and the local radio ?
- Danjoe4 2y agoBreastfeeding is preferred, and the vast majority of healthy mothers are able to breastfeed. Obviously, get a donor or formula if not possible. I don't need a study to tell me that food > no food.
- byproxy 2y ago> Scientific literacy is at an all-time low (or rather it's being leveraged at an all -time high) I'd say your parenthetical is probably the more appropriate take. That said, in the guise of "scientific literacy", do you have any studies saying as such or is this more a general feeling on your part?