April 1st arrives early this year

[ChrisGreaves]

Toronto Star

... “driving or leading a vessel with boots full of vodka seems to be safe,”

[John Gray]

It is compulsory for all scientific papers to end with the words, "More research is needed...".

I suppose the sentence, "Hansen insists this is a research area that begs for more studies" fulfils this requirement.

[ChrisGreaves]

It is compulsory for all scientific papers to end with the words, "More research is needed..."

Exactly.
I've written short articles on this, how a large proportion of the light-fear inducing stuff in the local "Daily Crap" seems to be someone whose funding is about to run out and is now getting as much media attention as possible to justify a plea for more funding: "Everyone is concerned about it ...".


http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ClearThinking/SuperantTakingOverEurope.htm
http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ClearThinking/ImDyingForADrink.htm
http://www.chrisgreaves.com/ClearThinking/GlobalBalding.htm

[BobH]

Could it possibly be that the need for grant money was the cause of the 'global warming' (now climate change) kerfuffle?

Just today, I read that the UK researcher who linked autism in children to vaccines had doctored his data (probably to ensure more funding).

[ChrisGreaves]

I read that the UK researcher who linked autism in children to vaccines had doctored his data (probably to ensure more funding).

OK. I'll grant you that possibility

[BobH]

Yes, but will I be able to absorb it.

[StuartR]

...I read that the UK researcher who linked autism in children to vaccines had doctored his data...

And he has been struck off the medical register after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council. See MMR doctor struck from register

[Argus]

... had doctored his data (probably to ensure more funding).

According to the information over here, if true, it was related to some lobbyists that didn't like vaccines, or the MMR, triple-vaccine (some parents apparently are nervous about all kind of different things…), and that they had, ehm, paid to get a certain result (mentioned in Stuart's link).

[Graeme]

And he has been struck off the medical register................

Good!

With all the heartache and confusion in the world of Autism more false knowledge is the last thing we need.

[StuartR]

...
With all the heartache and confusion in the world of Autism more false knowledge is the last thing we need.

He wasn't struck off for the misleading reporting, it was for carrying out unlicensed experiments on children (or something very similar).

[ChrisGreaves]

.... had doctored his data (probably to ensure more funding).

I'm puzzled that a used-to-be-reputable journal published it without seeking confirmation.
I thought the whole point about The Scientific Method (Asimov, Dawkins et al.) was that you had someone else reproduce your results in an independent fashion before publication.
I expect a journal to ask the author for the independent results.

[jonwallace]

I thought the whole point about The Scientific Method (Asimov, Dawkins et al.) was that you had someone else reproduce your results in an independent fashion before publication.
I expect a journal to ask the author for the independent results.

Don't make me laugh! A glance at current controversy regarding XMRV and ME/CFS will reveal such dirty tricks as having you papers "peer reviewed" by your wife; and filling the reference list with references that don't actually say what you say they say.

[ChrisGreaves]

... such dirty tricks as having you papers "peer reviewed" by your wife; and filling the reference list with references that don't actually say what you say they say.

Right.
I'm with you.
But isn't a (medical) journal's reputation based on its thorough checking of this stuff?
I mean, isn't that why it supposed to be so hard to get something published in a serious journal (as distinct from the "Chris Greaves Review of Vermicomposting in Etobicoke")

Asimov had a great story on the N-rays hoax. It's in a book somewhere in my bookshelves.

[ChrisGreaves]

"More research is needed...".

Here's a study that in essence suggests that a grant should be made to study the harmful effects on studies funded by grants.