From Vox: “In the past several years, many scientists have become afflicted with a serious case of doubt — doubt in the very institution of science.
. . . They told us that, in a variety of ways, their careers are being hijacked by perverse incentives. The result is bad science.
. . . Scientists say they’re forced to prioritize self-preservation over pursuing the best questions and uncovering meaningful truths.
‘I feel torn between asking questions that I know will lead to statistical significance and asking questions that matter,’ says Kathryn Bradshaw, a 27-year-old graduate student of counseling at the University of North Dakota.
Today, scientists’ success often isn’t measured by the quality of their questions or the rigor of their methods. It’s instead measured by how much grant money they win, the number of studies they publish, and how they spin their findings to appeal to the public.
. . . ‘Over time the most successful people will be those who can best exploit the system,’ Paul Smaldino, a cognitive science professor at University of California Merced, says.”
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