While I think it might be plausible to say academic papers shouldn't be taken as lightly or that be
—
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On Sat, May 30, 2015 at 7:50 PM, Filippo Salustri <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> I saw that article too, and had a good chuckle.
> But then I had an odd (for me) thought.
> I read the article as suggesting that science writers ought to be doing
> more fact-checking, because that's what a good journalist does on every
> story.
> Assuming that I read it correctly, I have to wonder: ought we really expect
> journalists to treat academics exactly the same as everyone else?
> Here's my logic: If we expect journalists to apply all their usual
> fact-checking standards to academic publications, then one may infer that
> this is because academic publications are no more reliable than other,
> non-academic sources of information.
> I see this as conflicting with what I think would be typical ethical
> expectations in academia surrounding publishing.
> And if it really is necessary for journalists to treat academic
> publications as they would any other publication, what does that say about
> the ability of the public to trust the opinions of experts?
> I'm not trying to be elitist about it, but journalists draw information
> from all kinds of different sources. Is it really the case that published
> academic work ought to be treated with the same suspicion as a "deep
> throat" informant?
> I worry about this - especially the degradation of the public trust in
> academia.
> If the kind of expertise that academia really ought to embody is important
> to society, general well-being, progress, etc. then perhaps we ought expect
> journalists to trust academics more and undertake to ensure a higher
> standard of ethics in academic publishing. Perhaps we ought to be taking a
> harder line against, for instance, "predatory publishers" and peer-review,
> and develop better checks and balances. If journalists can "trust" us
> more, then it should also translate into greater trust by the general
> public. And I think that would be a good thing all round.
> \V/_ /fas
> *Prof. Filippo A. Salustri, Ph.D., P.Eng.*
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> http://deseng.ryerson.ca/~fil/
> On 30 May 2015 at 17:50, Don Norman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> One reason to be wary of non-reputable journals (and the popular press).
>> Although this article is not about design, it touches upon a number of
>> topics that have been discussed in this forum. And it is both entertaining
>> and educational to read.
>> ------------
>> Eat a chocolate bar a day and grow healthier, lose weight, ...
>>
>> True? Who knows, but certainly do not trust all the news articles that
>> says it is.
>>
>> Here the author of the study shows that it is a hoax, a deliberate attempt
>> to see if shoddy science would get published. Alas, it was published and
>> widely reported. People really wanted it to be true, so therefore it became
>> true.
>>
>> Don't believe everything you read in the popular press.
>>
>>
>> http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-into-thinking-chocolate-helps-weight-1707251800
>>
>> Don
>>
>>
>>
>> Don Norman
>> Prof. and Director, DesignLab, UC San Diego
>> [log in to unmask] designlab.ucsd.edu/ www.jnd.org <http://www.jnd.org/>
>>
>>
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