Spotting bad science - guide

[CharlesWaugh]

Don't forget:
Don't forget:
• 'Science by Press Release'
• Moving the endpoints of a study.
• Odd inclusion criteria
• Odd exclusion criteria
• Testing againt placebo (not other, existing drug)
• Running multiple trials and burying all but a few (only reporting prositive results)
• Journals selectively publishing SHOCKING results, not basic science
• Journals getting paid (that is, charging) outrageously for reprints of even 'yawn' results
(because they are positive results and who actually reads those reprints that get handed out to docs?)
• Replication studies lacking (or nonexistent) in every discipline, esp. the 'soft sciences'
• Replication studies not getting pulished because they aren't 'cutting edge'
• FDA, USDA, etc. regulators moving directly into industry after their careers and getting fat consulting or 'research advisor' contracts
• Journals with high impact scores Articles written by CRO's (Contract Research Organizations) and rubber-stamped by academic 'authorities' (in pharma research)

And, the FDA's budget for Fiscal Year 2021 is [was]:
approximately $6.1 billion. provided by federal budget authorization (54%, or $3.3 billion)
and user industry fees (46%, or $2.8 billion). (almost HALF from those they are supposed to regulate)
https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/fact-sheet-fda-glance#:~:text=FDA's%20budget%20for%20Fiscal%20Year,%25%2C%20or%20%242.8%20 billion).