|
|
|
|
woolytoad
Skeptic Friend
313 Posts |
|
|
Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
 Posted - 07/14/2005 : 18:21:38 [Permalink]
|
It would be strange if medical studies always got the same result. There is always going to be differences. If a study finds a slightly different result, or even if a study contradicts a previous study, it does not necessarily mean that the original study was flawed. There is so much variation that is difficult to control for. Maybe the first study was conducted when there was a flu epidemic was going on, and people were generally healthy during the second.
Saying that, it's worrying that some pharmaceutical companies are being dishonest in their publishings. Some have conducted loads of trials, but only reported the most positive ones. Sometimes they haven't published results regarding side effects. As someone who loves science, I find this disgusting. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
 |
|
|
Baxter
Skeptic Friend
USA
131 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2005 : 20:36:59 [Permalink]
|
| This reminds me of Todd Snider's great song, Statistician's Blues. |
|
|
|
dv82matt
SFN Regular
760 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2005 : 22:43:17 [Permalink]
|
Well since this study shows that one third of studies are wrong, how do we know that this study is accurate?
Sorry, I just couldn't resist.  |
|
|
|
woolytoad
Skeptic Friend
313 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 03:33:32 [Permalink]
|
quote:
It would be strange if medical studies always got the same result.
Yeah but medical studies or not, aren't we always going to get some percentage of research that proves to be ... not so good. After all we expect them to be peer reviewed and then repeated and so some findings are going to contradict others.
Shouldn't we be expecting similar types of statistics for research in all fields? |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 03:47:12 [Permalink]
|
But sooner or later, all of the failed studies are known for what they are. There is a bit of knowledge to be gained from them, even in their failure. I am reminded of Archeoraptor and National Geographic's blunder.
 |
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
|
|
|
|
woolytoad
Skeptic Friend
313 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 03:56:38 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by filthy
I am reminded of Archeoraptor and National Geographic's blunder.
There a great documentary about that. I'm impressed by the work done on both the forgers and palaeontologist sides. |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 04:08:08 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by woolytoad
quote:
Originally posted by filthy
I am reminded of Archeoraptor and National Geographic's blunder.
There a great documentary about that. I'm impressed by the work done on both the forgers and palaeontologist sides.
Indeed. It was a masterful fraud. And the great part about it is that it is still a valuable find in that it was pieced together from two, previously unknown species. 
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
| Edited by - filthy on 07/15/2005 04:09:28 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Topic Locked
