6 ms·

Is it possible that "make up" meant "put together" or "do", instead of "fake up"?

devindotcom 13y ago
This is what I thought... there are brits in the comments saying they have used this phrase in this way many times. That said, it is a little odd that it made it through 3 reviewers, none of whom objected or got clarification — or if they did, it's not on the record. (edit: which/whom)
- mathattack 13y ago
  That it made it through the reviewers suggests the rigor of the review process. :-) Was this a major journal? I also wondered if there was something less nefarious in the explanation. Was it "Falsify some results" or "Toss up some BS about this topic". The latter is bad, but part of the academic paper business. The first is career ending.
- anateus 13y ago
  Using the plural for "data" ("Where are they?" it says) increases the likelihood that "make up" just means "do" in that context.
JohnDakota 13y ago
The student is now a Postdoc in Brazil and the PI has since moved to Western Australia for another position. These moves happened in 2011 and 2012 respectively, according to their linkedin profiles. So unless they're still working on the project, it's unlikely the phrase 'just make up' means to put together.. rather it's more likely that it means to fabricate. Basic elemental analysis is very easy to fake, and very hard to demonstrate it was faked.
vstm 13y ago
Since the prof studied at the university of Neuchâtel and Salerno I guess it's save to assume he's not a native english speaker. So I think it's possible that it was just sloppy wording. I'm curious what his statement is going to say.
ronaldx 13y ago
"just make up" makes this interpretation unlikely. Additionally: it matters just as much how the grad student interpreted the statement, as how it was intended. Even if meant with good intention, which I doubt, the use of language is in itself poor because the intent is not clear.
- mikeash 13y ago
  Only if the task is difficult. If it's a simple task, the phrasing is fine. I have no idea how hard this particular thing is, though.
- dnautics 13y ago
  "hey, lazy grad student, we're in a hurry. Just make up the table from the data you have, already."
  - dnautics 13y ago
    I happen to personally believe that the guy is guilty of attempting to fake the data - but it is certainly a plausible explanation that should not be discounted.

This is what I thought... there are brits in the comments saying they have used this phrase in this way many times. That said, it is a little odd that it made it through 3 reviewers, none of whom objected or got clarification — or if they did, it's not on the record. (edit: which/whom)

mathattack 13y ago
That it made it through the reviewers suggests the rigor of the review process. :-) Was this a major journal? I also wondered if there was something less nefarious in the explanation. Was it "Falsify some results" or "Toss up some BS about this topic". The latter is bad, but part of the academic paper business. The first is career ending.
anateus 13y ago
Using the plural for "data" ("Where are they?" it says) increases the likelihood that "make up" just means "do" in that context.

JohnDakota 13y ago

The student is now a Postdoc in Brazil and the PI has since moved to Western Australia for another position. These moves happened in 2011 and 2012 respectively, according to their linkedin profiles. So unless they're still working on the project, it's unlikely the phrase 'just make up' means to put together.. rather it's more likely that it means to fabricate. Basic elemental analysis is very easy to fake, and very hard to demonstrate it was faked.

vstm 13y ago

Since the prof studied at the university of Neuchâtel and Salerno I guess it's save to assume he's not a native english speaker. So I think it's possible that it was just sloppy wording. I'm curious what his statement is going to say.

ronaldx 13y ago

"just make up" makes this interpretation unlikely. Additionally: it matters just as much how the grad student interpreted the statement, as how it was intended. Even if meant with good intention, which I doubt, the use of language is in itself poor because the intent is not clear.

mikeash 13y ago
Only if the task is difficult. If it's a simple task, the phrasing is fine. I have no idea how hard this particular thing is, though.
dnautics 13y ago
"hey, lazy grad student, we're in a hurry. Just make up the table from the data you have, already."
- dnautics 13y ago
  I happen to personally believe that the guy is guilty of attempting to fake the data - but it is certainly a plausible explanation that should not be discounted.