The Problem with Science: The Reproducibility Crisis and What to do About It

Description

Recent events have vividly underscored the societal importance of science, yet the majority of the public are unaware that a large proportion of published scientific results are simply wrong. The Problem with Science is an exploration of the manifestations and causes of this scientific crisis, accompanied by a description of the very promising corrective initiatives largely developed over the past decade to stem the spate of irreproducible results that have come to characterize many of our sciences. More importantly, Dr. R. Barker Bausell has designed it to provide guidance to practicing and aspiring scientists regarding how (a) to change the way in which science has come to be both conducted and reported in order to avoid producing false positive, irreproducible results in their own work and (b) to change those institutional practices (primarily but not exclusively involving the traditional journal publishing process and the academic reward system) that have unwittingly contributed to the present crisis. There is a need for change in the scientific culture itself. A culture which prioritizes conducting research correctly in order to get things right rather than simply getting it published. Cover Half-Title Title Page Copyright Contents A Brief Note Acknowledgments Introduction I. BACKGROUND AND FACILITATORS OF THE CRISIS 1. Publication Bias 2. False-.Positive Results and a Nontechnical Overview of Their Modeling 3. Questionable Research Practices (QRPs) and Their Devastating Scientific Effects 4. A Few Case Studies of QRP-.Driven Irreproducible Results 5. The Return of Pathological Science Accompanied by a Pinch of Replication II. APPROACHES FOR IDENTIFYING IRREPRODUCIBLE FINDINGS 6. The Replication Process 7. Multiple-.Study Replication Initiatives 8. Damage Control upon Learning That One’s Study Failed to Replicate III. STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING THE REPRODUCIBILITY OF PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC RESULTS 9. Publishing Issues and Their Impact on Reproducibility 10. Preregistration, Data Sharing, and Other Salutary Behaviors 11. A (Very) Few Concluding Thoughts Index