Posted by banga on February 18, 2005, at 17:56:03
In reply to Re: The influence of the pharmaceutical industry, posted by ed_uk on February 18, 2005, at 14:55:11
Data is SO easy to manipulate. Don't like the result you got using one analysis? Use a different type, subdivide your subject groups differently, don't report it.
Studies should be examined by persons looking not only at the design, subject demographics, etc., but also with an assumption that the researcher is not invested in finding a certain result--
and investigate who benefits and in what way from results being (who funds it? What is THEIR interest?)
I am always a little naive about people being so greedy that they are willing to do lots of unethical moves and hurt people in the pursuit of monetary gain or fame. I always assume that that is the rare case, the sociopaths....but money can warp an otherwise good honest person.
So in that context, it's VERY scary what such a person could do to manipulate data.
poster:banga
thread:459814
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050217/msgs/460098.html