Beware the creeping cracks of bias, Nature, [FREE]

[Mjt]

So here in Australia does religious belief have much influence on scientific research, either what gets done or how results are interpreted?

[Darwinsbulldog]

Originally Posted by Mjt

So here in Australia does religious belief have much influence on scientific research, either what gets done or how results are interpreted?

No, I was talking generally. Stuff like creationists/some theists influencing how science is taught, or trying to stop stem cell research, etc, etc. Recent cases of Muslim med students rejecting evolution, and so on. It is not bad here -yet, but it could be a problem in the future, IMHO.

[Mjt]

It just seems crazy in this day and age, with all the technology and all the possibilities we have, that beliefs in sky faries are still holding back learning and understanding.
We have so much potential

[Darwinsbulldog]

Originally Posted by Mjt

It just seems crazy in this day and age, with all the technology and all the possibilities we have, that beliefs in sky faries are still holding back learning and understanding.
We have so much potential

Humans have Jurassic hormones, pleistocene brains, stone age religions, eighteenth century political philosophies, nineteenth century systems of government and finance/corporations, and twenty-first century weapon systems.


A dangerous mix.

[Mjt]

Puppy I have faith in us. I learn from clever people like you and I try to change my little bit. Crazy fundies with nukes makes me feel ill

[Mjt]

Bias seems to have occupied much of my weekend conversations, and I am now wondering if it is a little unrealistic of lay people like myself to expect that scientific research will be totally unbiased. I am guessing that it it a pretty competitive field, and there must be a fair bit of pressure on researchers to produce the desired results.
I have a lot of faith in us humans, and like to believe that we can, if we work at it, overcome our own bias, but I do wonder if it is fair to expect so much of one particular group, when at the end of the day, this is how they make their living.
I have always thought that a negative or undesired outcome is just as important as a positive one, as it teaches us new things in just the same way. But it is easy for lay people like me to have high expectations, because we dont have to do the work, and we dont have the pressures.

Still a little nervous about the fundies with the big guns though

[Darwinsbulldog]

Originally Posted by Mjt

Bias seems to have occupied much of my weekend conversations, and I am now wondering if it is a little unrealistic of lay people like myself to expect that scientific research will be totally unbiased. I am guessing that it it a pretty competitive field, and there must be a fair bit of pressure on researchers to produce the desired results.
I have a lot of faith in us humans, and like to believe that we can, if we work at it, overcome our own bias, but I do wonder if it is fair to expect so much of one particular group, when at the end of the day, this is how they make their living.
I have always thought that a negative or undesired outcome is just as important as a positive one, as it teaches us new things in just the same way. But it is easy for lay people like me to have high expectations, because we dont have to do the work, and we dont have the pressures.

Still a little nervous about the fundies with the big guns though

I think all things considered, there is room for optomism, because despite all the negatives, science is very largely successful at what it does. My comments were not of the "end is nigh" sort, just some concerns, that, as this article and others like it suggests, is either being sorted or noted.

In terms of general human affairs, science is doing pretty well. One need only compare it to most, if not all religions and many political and economic woes that are in much more need of reform.

The cold war lasted for 50 years, and during that time, a fair number of the national leaders on both sides were totally inadequate or even nutters, and yet we got through. Some luck was involved, but I like to think it was thinking people in the wings of both sides that influenced their leaders to moderate their positions.

[Goldenmane]

I've long held that it would be good to have a journal or two exclusively dedicated to publishing negative studies.

[Darwinsbulldog]

Originally Posted by Goldenmane

I've long held that it would be good to have a journal or two exclusively dedicated to publishing negative studies.

Proceedings of the Royal Society for Electron studies?? I am charged up about this idea, although it may be shocking to some. All we need is some dynamo to create a spark of interest. After all, negativism is just as positive as positivism???

[Goldenmane]

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That is all.

(I have no punnery to call on right now, mate. Too tired.)