Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/esdd-4-451-2013
https://doi.org/10.5194/esdd-4-451-2013
03 May 2013
 | 03 May 2013
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ESD but the revision was not accepted.

Agnotology: learning from mistakes

R. E. Benestad, H. O. Hygen, R. van Dorland, J. Cook, and D. Nuccitelli

Abstract. Replication is an important part of science, and by repeating past analyses, we show that a number of papers in the scientific literature contain severe methodological flaws which can easily be identified through simple tests and demonstrations. In many cases, shortcomings are related to a lack of robustness, leading to results that are not universally valid but rather an artifact of a particular experimental set-up. Some examples presented here have ignored data that do not fit the conclusions, and in several other cases, inappropriate statistical methods have been adopted or conclusions have been based on misconceived physics. These papers may serve as educational case studies for why certain analytical approaches sometimes are unsuitable in providing reliable answers. They also highlight the merit of replication. A lack of common replication has repercussions for the quality of the scientific literature, and may be a reason why some controversial questions remain unanswered even when ignorance could be reduced. Agnotology is the study of such ignorance. A free and open-source software is provided for demonstration purposes.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
R. E. Benestad, H. O. Hygen, R. van Dorland, J. Cook, and D. Nuccitelli
 
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Status: closed
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Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
R. E. Benestad, H. O. Hygen, R. van Dorland, J. Cook, and D. Nuccitelli
R. E. Benestad, H. O. Hygen, R. van Dorland, J. Cook, and D. Nuccitelli

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