Comments on: PR-reviewed data http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/ Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column from the Guardian and more... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:57:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: fv35HELEN http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-30989 fv35HELEN Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:21:48 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-30989 People do opine that the argumentative essay creating seems to be the really time taking issue. However, we rely on the <a href="//quality-papers.com" rel="nofollow">essays online</a> service support every time when it's demanded. People do opine that the argumentative essay creating seems to be the really time taking issue. However, we rely on the essays online service support every time when it’s demanded.

]]> By: wayscj http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-29021 wayscj Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:36:28 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-29021 ed hardy <a title="ed hardy" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy</strong></a> ed hardy clothing <a title="ed hardy clothing" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy clothing</strong></a> ed hardy shop <a title="ed hardy shop" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy shop</strong></a> christian audigier <a title="christian audigier" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>christian audigier</strong></a> ed hardy cheap <a title="ed hardy cheap" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy cheap</strong></a> ed hardy outlet <a title="ed hardy outlet" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy outlet</strong></a> ed hardy sale <a title="ed hardy clothes" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy sale</strong></a> ed hardy store <a title="ed hardy store" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy store</strong></a> ed hardy mens <a title="ed hardy mens" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk/mens.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy mens</strong></a> ed hardy womens <a title="ed hardy womens" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk/womens.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy womens</strong></a> ed hardy kids <a title="ed hardy kids" href="http://www.edhardyworld.co.uk/kids.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>ed hardy kids</strong></a> ed hardy kids ed hardy ed hardy
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]]> By: Griffiths http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27623 Griffiths Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:50:43 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27623 Is the answer to fight back? Science institutions, the RI, Universities and others, should start feeding the papers equally easy to print stories, but ones which are raising awareness of genuinely important developments and research. What actually happens is that potentially interesting work is buried, either in journals you need to pay to view, or in impenetrable jargon. Is the answer to fight back? Science institutions, the RI, Universities and others, should start feeding the papers equally easy to print stories, but ones which are raising awareness of genuinely important developments and research. What actually happens is that potentially interesting work is buried, either in journals you need to pay to view, or in impenetrable jargon.

]]> By: platothefish http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27614 platothefish Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:24:17 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27614 Need to write a story exposing something there is no real evidence for? Easy create your own poll, get the office to complete it and just give the percentages as concrete results. Sky news does it all the time. I think it is a recognised research technique isn't it? I am sure I remember something like this being taught during my Ph.D. I think it was sandwiched between factor analysis techniques and advance regression analysis. Need to write a story exposing something there is no real evidence for? Easy create your own poll, get the office to complete it and just give the percentages as concrete results. Sky news does it all the time. I think it is a recognised research technique isn’t it? I am sure I remember something like this being taught during my Ph.D. I think it was sandwiched between factor analysis techniques and advance regression analysis.

]]> By: Svetlana Pertsovich http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27600 Svetlana Pertsovich Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:04:07 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27600 Ben, I tried to send this letter by e-mail to you. But there is overload in box :( So I write here. David Colquhoun wants to undergo an opearation. Look at here: http://www.dcscience.net/?p=2073 Do you see it? "And now it looks as though I’ll be getting a partial or total nephrectomy too." And here: http://www.dcscience.net/?p=1980 Do you see David's comment #6? It is not joke and not idle blabbing. He wants to do it really. I talked with him. He thinks that he has a cancer. It is complete nonsense! It is common overdiagnosis! The operation is not useless, moreover - harmfull and dangerous! Stop him, please. You are a doctor and his friend! Please! Or else this idiot will kill himself by his silly behaviour! He will listen to you. PLEASE! Save him! Ben,
I tried to send this letter by e-mail to you. But there is overload in box :( So I write here.

David Colquhoun wants to undergo an opearation. Look at here:
http://www.dcscience.net/?p=2073
Do you see it? “And now it looks as though I’ll be getting a partial or total nephrectomy too.”
And here:
http://www.dcscience.net/?p=1980
Do you see David’s comment #6?

It is not joke and not idle blabbing. He wants to do it really.

I talked with him. He thinks that he has a cancer. It is complete nonsense! It is common overdiagnosis! The operation is not useless, moreover – harmfull and dangerous!
Stop him, please. You are a doctor and his friend! Please!
Or else this idiot will kill himself by his silly behaviour!
He will listen to you.

PLEASE! Save him!

]]> By: foofdawg http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27595 foofdawg Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:37:29 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27595 "If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed" - Mark Twain Might not be an exact quote, as I'm getting it from my memory, but I've always liked it. “If you don’t read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed” – Mark Twain

Might not be an exact quote, as I’m getting it from my memory, but I’ve always liked it.

]]> By: Synchronium http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27594 Synchronium Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:20:42 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27594 Fanny magnet, lol. You'd think the Guardian editor would run this kind of shit past you first, if only out of fear that you'll flag it up. Seems hypocritical. Fanny magnet, lol.

You’d think the Guardian editor would run this kind of shit past you first, if only out of fear that you’ll flag it up. Seems hypocritical.

]]> By: Lafayette http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27591 Lafayette Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:33:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27591 I saw some research on the fanny magnets a while back. I believe they recruited a load of menopausal women to wear them and then asked them if their symptoms persisted. The timeframe involved, and the response measured, seemed to suggest... well, I'm sure you can work the rest out... I saw some research on the fanny magnets a while back. I believe they recruited a load of menopausal women to wear them and then asked them if their symptoms persisted. The timeframe involved, and the response measured, seemed to suggest… well, I’m sure you can work the rest out…

]]> By: austinresearch http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27590 austinresearch Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:57:38 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27590 I have recently read publicity about the Guardian Group struggling and seen campaigns asking readers to make sure they buy regular copies of the Guardian and Observer to ensure these great publications don't go to the wall. Having purchased Sunday's Observer imagine my glee when I was perusing through the magazine this morning (special gardening edition) and stumbled on pieces about the Dolly Rockers' and Pixie Lott's gardens. Utter drivel, written only with the hope of publicising their new releases. Observer reading gardeners seem to be a strange audience for the Dolly Rockers to target though. I have recently read publicity about the Guardian Group struggling and seen campaigns asking readers to make sure they buy regular copies of the Guardian and Observer to ensure these great publications don’t go to the wall. Having purchased Sunday’s Observer imagine my glee when I was perusing through the magazine this morning (special gardening edition) and stumbled on pieces about the Dolly Rockers’ and Pixie Lott’s gardens. Utter drivel, written only with the hope of publicising their new releases. Observer reading gardeners seem to be a strange audience for the Dolly Rockers to target though.

]]> By: baldingdad http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27584 baldingdad Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:41:33 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27584 #1 - Paul Wilson, Alision Booth and pals undertook a near-as-damn-it systematic review of trastuzumab coverage which was published in the JRSM: http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/101/3/125 #1 – Paul Wilson, Alision Booth and pals undertook a near-as-damn-it systematic review of trastuzumab coverage which was published in the JRSM:

http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/101/3/125

]]> By: theonlyrick http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27583 theonlyrick Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:51:45 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27583 This isn't to do with PR firms, but it's a pretty fantastic example of Bad Science: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/2592758/Bolt-outruns-buses-and-the-tube.html This isn’t to do with PR firms, but it’s a pretty fantastic example of Bad Science:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/2592758/Bolt-outruns-buses-and-the-tube.html

]]> By: mikewhit http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27579 mikewhit Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:51:03 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27579 #11: prescott - link spammer ! please block ... in fact, how about adding a script that bounces any posting containing the dreaded Finn Drux link ! #11: prescott – link spammer ! please block … in fact, how about adding a script that bounces any posting containing the dreaded Finn Drux link !

]]> By: sair-fecht http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27577 sair-fecht Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:38:28 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27577 On comment#1 - Now, maybe there is an idea of a job for some of those 'Media Studies' graduates who are currently seeking useful employment...? (though I wonder if their analytical skills would be up for it!) On comment#1 – Now, maybe there is an idea of a job for some of those ‘Media Studies’ graduates who are currently seeking useful employment…? (though I wonder if their analytical skills would be up for it!)

]]> By: prescott http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27576 prescott Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:15:22 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27576 <a href="http://www.findrxonline.com/articulos-medica/parkinson.html" rel="nofollow">Parkinson´s</a> disease is caused by deterioration or death of certain neurons in a brain area known as substance nigra. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting the signals between the substance nigra and the corpus striatum, upon a good muscle activity. The decrease in dopamine production in patients causes an inability to direct or control their movements as normal, due to lack of nerve cells in the striatum. Studies that findrxonline has shown that Parkinson's patients have a loss of 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substance nigra. The cause of this cell death or damage is unknown. Parkinson´s disease is caused by deterioration or death of certain neurons in a brain area known as substance nigra. These neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting the signals between the substance nigra and the corpus striatum, upon a good muscle activity.
The decrease in dopamine production in patients causes an inability to direct or control their movements as normal, due to lack of nerve cells in the striatum. Studies that findrxonline has shown that Parkinson’s patients have a loss of 80% or more of dopamine-producing cells in the substance nigra. The cause of this cell death or damage is unknown.

]]> By: CoralBloom http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27564 CoralBloom Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:56:57 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27564 I stopped buying newspapers years ago. Why? If the make such a mess of science reporting, then what about the rest (where I have much less background)? The press have made their own, fatal decisions. I stopped buying newspapers years ago. Why? If the make such a mess of science reporting, then what about the rest (where I have much less background)?
The press have made their own, fatal decisions.

]]> By: apatheticblues http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27563 apatheticblues Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:23:01 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27563 I wish newspapers would realise that one of the reasons their advertising revenue is plummeting is because they are printing advertisements posing as news stories, simply because it's an easy, cheap way to fill their pages. Why would an advertiser pay for glossy adverts that everybody blanks out by habit when they can get a newspaper to print it as a story for free (or for the price of employing a canny PR agency). I wish newspapers would realise that one of the reasons their advertising revenue is plummeting is because they are printing advertisements posing as news stories, simply because it’s an easy, cheap way to fill their pages. Why would an advertiser pay for glossy adverts that everybody blanks out by habit when they can get a newspaper to print it as a story for free (or for the price of employing a canny PR agency).

]]> By: fftyfv http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27560 fftyfv Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:40:31 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27560 Medialens are particularly good, too. Very good at dissecting news stories. I subscribe to their 'media alerts' which drop in to your inbox evry fornight or so, and provide illuminating critical analysis of the 'best' UK media (Guardian, BBC, etc). They have written two books: 'Guardians of Power' and 'Newspeak for the 21st Century Medialens are particularly good, too.

Very good at dissecting news stories. I subscribe to their ‘media alerts’ which drop in to your inbox evry fornight or so, and provide illuminating critical analysis of the ‘best’ UK media (Guardian, BBC, etc).

They have written two books: ‘Guardians of Power’ and ‘Newspeak for the 21st Century

]]> By: zeno http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27559 zeno Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:59:34 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27559 I third it. Well worth reading, but depressing. I third it. Well worth reading, but depressing.

]]> By: Tileman http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27557 Tileman Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:14:48 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27557 I have to second the recomendation for flat earth news http://www.flatearthnews.net/ I have to second the recomendation for flat earth news
http://www.flatearthnews.net/

]]> By: drunkenoaf http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/comment-page-1/#comment-27555 drunkenoaf Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:06:54 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/08/pr-reviewed-data/#comment-27555 @Michael Grayer: read Flat Earth News by Nick Davies; he has lots of analysis of just this type of churnalism and comes to (one) conclusion that there's so much pressure on most journos to produce content, there's no time to check facts or care about the quality. Press releases that can be easily rehashed are so tempting to use. @Michael Grayer: read Flat Earth News by Nick Davies; he has lots of analysis of just this type of churnalism and comes to (one) conclusion that there’s so much pressure on most journos to produce content, there’s no time to check facts or care about the quality. Press releases that can be easily rehashed are so tempting to use.

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