-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of D. R. Newman
Sent: 24 November 2013 23:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] "Twenty Top Tips"

It misses the obvious one.

0. Ask the right question.

Or in expanded form:

Accurately and precisely measuring the answer to the wrong question is worse than any attempt to answer the right question.

And that is why you do qualitative research: to find out the right questions to test.

On 22/11/13 22:31, Sam Kuper wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> This is a list which may be of interest to the list!
>
> http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/twenty-top-tips-for-interpreting-sc
> ientific-claims
>
> The tips are (in brief):
>
> 1. Differences and chance cause variation.
> 2. No measurement is exact.
> 3. Bias is rife.
> 4. Bigger is usually better for sample size.
> 5. Correlation does not imply causation.
> 6. Regression to the mean can mislead.
> 7. Extrapolating beyond the data is risky.
> 8. Beware the base-rate fallacy.
> 9. Controls are important.
> 10. Randomization avoids bias.
> 11. Seek replication, not pseudoreplication.
> 12. Scientists are human.
> 13. Significance is significant.
> 14. Separate no effect from non-significance.
> 15. Effect size matters.
> 16. Study relevance limits generalisations.
> 17. Feelings influence risk perception.
> 18. Dependencies change the risks.
> 19. Data can be dredged or cherry picked.
> 20. Extreme measurements may mislead.

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