Jan
19
Bad Bad Batz
Bullshit, sometimes literally.
Posts tagged according to a recent study
Jan
11
John Iaonnidis: Why Most Published Research Findings Are False (PLoS Medicine)
This 2005 essay has been in my “must read” stack for a while. Tells you something about the size of that stack, or about my attention span, or something:
Abstract: There is increasing concern that most current published research findings are false. The probability that a research claim is true may depend on study power and bias, the number of other studies on the same question, and, importantly, the ratio of true to no relationships among the relationships probed in each scientific field. In this framework, a research finding is less likely to be true when the studies conducted in a field are smaller; when effect sizes are smaller; when there is a greater number and lesser preselection of tested relationships; where there is greater flexibility in designs, definitions, outcomes, and analytical modes; when there is greater financial and other interest and prejudice; and when more teams are involved in a scientific field in chase of statistical significance. Simulations show that for most study designs and settings, it is more likely for a research claim to be false than true. Moreover, for many current scientific fields, claimed research findings may often be simply accurate measures of the prevailing bias. In this essay, I discuss the implications of these problems for the conduct and interpretation of research.
While you’re at it, Instapaper the shit out of this excellent profile of Iaonnidis.
via bookofjoe
Dec
9
my.microbes.eu
Research project on gastrointestinal bacteria, open to the public for a fee. Send in a stool sample and some cash and they’ll examine your gut flora. You’ll then be able to see the results of your data and interact with others with similar microbial profiles to “directly share experiences, remedies, health and diet tips.” Looks a little nutty, but their work has been published in Nature.
[via Wired]
