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The headline should read 'Faked research pervasive in China,' not 'endemic'. The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China, wh

by loudmax 14y ago

The headline should read 'Faked research pervasive in China,' not 'endemic'. The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China, which is, of course, completely false. The word 'endemic' is incorrectly used in the headline of the article itself, and occurs in the article, so it is not the fault of the submitter. The editors New Scientist ought to know better.

wtvanhest 14y ago
I agree that the word choice could be improved to reduce sensationalism but technically 'endemic' has two definitions. The first seems to be what the author of the article and especially the interviewee intended. "adjective Also, en·dem·i·cal. 1. natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic." http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/endemic?s=t http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/endemic?s=t
denzil_correa 14y ago
> The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China, which is, of course, completely false. I was just curious about this. So, I looked up on the definition of 'endemic' and found the following definitions (of a disease or condition) Regularly found among particular people or in a certain area. Denoting an area in which a particular disease is regularly found In my limited understanding, I think 'endemic' means that it is a trait or found regularly in a particular region. It does not mean it is not found outside that region. Right?
- adrianm 14y ago
  That was my initial understanding of "endemic"'s meaning as well. However the Oxford English Dictionary does have the following supplementary definition: Quote: "2 (of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area: a marsupial endemic to northeastern Australia" Where interestingly, the OED does use the word "restricted" which means that the word could denote regional exclusivity as the parent interpreted.
  - denzil_correa 14y ago
    Interesting and I looked this up in the Oxford Dictionary and found the following two meanings - 1(of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area: complacency is endemic in industry today [attributive] (of an area) in which a particular disease is regularly found: the persistence of infection on pastures in endemic areas 2(of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain place: a marsupial endemic to north-eastern Australia Clearly, 'endemic' in the current sense relates to definition 1 (a condition) rather than definition 2 (a plant or animal). I still think that there is no issue in English in the title. The title may have been a bit more euphemistic but I think it conveys the correct issue.
spindritf 14y ago
> The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China It doesn't mean that. It means that it regularly occurs in China. If you want to go with the epidemiological understanding, it would also mean that fraud doesn't need to be imported from outside of China. Is says absolutely nothing about not-China.

by loudmax 14y ago

wtvanhest 14y ago

I agree that the word choice could be improved to reduce sensationalism but technically 'endemic' has two definitions. The first seems to be what the author of the article and especially the interviewee intended. "adjective Also, en·dem·i·cal. 1. natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic." http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/endemic?s=t http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/endemic?s=t

denzil_correa 14y ago

> The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China, which is, of course, completely false. I was just curious about this. So, I looked up on the definition of 'endemic' and found the following definitions (of a disease or condition) Regularly found among particular people or in a certain area. Denoting an area in which a particular disease is regularly found In my limited understanding, I think 'endemic' means that it is a trait or found regularly in a particular region. It does not mean it is not found outside that region. Right?

adrianm 14y ago
That was my initial understanding of "endemic"'s meaning as well. However the Oxford English Dictionary does have the following supplementary definition: Quote: "2 (of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area: a marsupial endemic to northeastern Australia" Where interestingly, the OED does use the word "restricted" which means that the word could denote regional exclusivity as the parent interpreted.
- denzil_correa 14y ago
  Interesting and I looked this up in the Oxford Dictionary and found the following two meanings - 1(of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area: complacency is endemic in industry today [attributive] (of an area) in which a particular disease is regularly found: the persistence of infection on pastures in endemic areas 2(of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain place: a marsupial endemic to north-eastern Australia Clearly, 'endemic' in the current sense relates to definition 1 (a condition) rather than definition 2 (a plant or animal). I still think that there is no issue in English in the title. The title may have been a bit more euphemistic but I think it conveys the correct issue.

spindritf 14y ago

> The existing headline means that faked research doesn't occur outside of China It doesn't mean that. It means that it regularly occurs in China. If you want to go with the epidemiological understanding, it would also mean that fraud doesn't need to be imported from outside of China. Is says absolutely nothing about not-China.