When
national debates, contesting social and public standards, come to a boil,
research studies are frequently a neutral and trusted voice in settling a final
verdict. However, the tools available to researchers can allow them to
manipulate any and all parameters to dictate overall outcomes. The result of
inaccurate and careless scientific studies is junk science, which is usually
indistinguishable from legitimate scientific publications for the layman as
well as for most journalists, warns Popular Mechanics science editor Sarah
Fecht. These faux research studies gain traction with celebrity backing and
spotlights in mainstream media. The net impact however is a detriment to our
society as Fecht describes: “These studies cause real harm—for instance, by
denouncing lifesaving vaccines and vilifying foods that could ease famine in
developing countries.”…...Moreover,
open access journals make a profit from authors instead of subscribers, granting
phony data space in their publications. Therefore, junk science is not simply
accepted but encouraged to enter mainstream media, where it is used to skew and
direct national dialogue regarding our behaviors and lifestyles. Read more
about junk science dictating the state of our public health here......To Read More…..
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