Scientific Fraud: A Reminder...

Uncle Gordon said:

http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1265

I like the part that says that according to research by Prof. David
Wright "foreign nationals who learned somewhat different scientific
standards" is one of the "basic reasons" of "why scientists cheat".

Does that imply that Canadian nationals are the culprits and the basic
reason of why scientists cheat? :-) Seriously, I doubt cheating is
tolerated any more lightly in any non-US system that produces research
scientists.

That said, I openly admit that I fake data all the time, except that I
call it "simulations". "Real" data is such a hindrance anyway.

1) It is expensive. Many people won't spit for $20 to give a DNA
sample not to mention give blood to benefit ungodly research they
don't trust.

2) You'd have to be careful not to overstep consent, protect privacy,
keep the lab notebook, ... In short, become a part-time accountant.

3) With real data, you never know "the truth", whereas with samples
taken from a simulated population you're the one who specified all the
parameters. So you know how often what you're finding is what you're
supposed to find and thus determine how well your method works.

4) Any results obtained with a real data set are subject to
statistical sampling whereas with simulations, the distribution of
results can be examined over repeated samples produced under exactly
the same conditions.

DZ said:

Uncle Gordon said:

http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1265

I like the part that says that according to research by Prof. David
Wright "foreign nationals who learned somewhat different scientific
standards" is one of the "basic reasons" of "why scientists cheat".

American scientists are just so goll-darned honest and they, in no way,
are motivated by the billions of $$ being spent by industry to fund
their studies.

Dontcha know?

I don't think most american researchers understand the basic concepts
of ethics. They are almost all crooked, you know like the politicians
that direct the FDA, the NIHs and the USDA.

TC

Quoted message said:

Does that imply that Canadian nationals are the culprits and the basic
reason of why scientists cheat? :-) Seriously, I doubt cheating is
tolerated any more lightly in any non-US system that produces research
scientists.

That said, I openly admit that I fake data all the time, except that I
call it "simulations". "Real" data is such a hindrance anyway.

1) It is expensive. Many people won't spit for $20 to give a DNA
sample not to mention give blood to benefit ungodly research they
don't trust.

2) You'd have to be careful not to overstep consent, protect privacy,
keep the lab notebook, ... In short, become a part-time accountant.

3) With real data, you never know "the truth", whereas with samples
taken from a simulated population you're the one who specified all the
parameters. So you know how often what you're finding is what you're
supposed to find and thus determine how well your method works.

4) Any results obtained with a real data set are subject to
statistical sampling whereas with simulations, the distribution of
results can be examined over repeated samples produced under exactly
the same conditions.