...citing “irregularities” in the data provided by his partner in the research. He is seeking a retraction of the study, published in the journal Science.
The study purported to show the ease with which peoples’ minds can be changed on the subject of same-sex marriage after short conversations, particularly with gay advocates.
The co-author, Donald P. Green of Columbia University... said two University of California-Berkeley graduate students who had attempted their own research “brought to my attention a series of irregularities that called into question the integrity of the data we present.”
When Green’s co-author, Michael LaCour, was shown the information, Green said he could not provide the survey data he claimed to have collected. Nor would LaCour provide “the contact information of survey respondents so their participation in the survey could be verified…,” Green said.
“I am deeply embarrassed by this turn of events and apologize to the editors, reviewer, and readers of Science,” Green wrote at the conclusion of his memo. He also listed the paper as “retracted by Donald Green” on his curriculum vitae.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
On second thought...
"Co-author disavows highly publicized study on public opinion and same-sex marriage"
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13 comments:
Who are your daddy's and what do they do?
Data manipulation being a prominent theme today, I was astounded at the data manipulation of the Larsen sheet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N61EP5zB8uU
See? All I have to do is believe that was fabricated and I automatically meet the intelligence requirement for membership in the Republican Party!
Sounds like the co-authors had a big, nasty falling out.
LaCour, the alleged fraudster, was the University of Texas Longhorns' football mascot for two years.
I'm sure Bevo is very disappointed in the young man.
Please, someone explain to me why I should be interested in the sex lives of anyone male or female, or in between (I had a close "Bi" friend in college and the topic never came up in some 4 years). I will acknowledge that those who do insist on detailing their sexual proclivities, hetero or gay, to me are boring and obsessed with self...or just childish. Fortunately, this event has been seldom in my life, up to today, where I still have friends who are gay and (oddly?) the subject never comes up. We're just Dick, Mark, and Andy, each our own man and without rancor. My kid and I just celebrated their birthday with a great meal at a great Italian place, and a couple bottles of v-e-r-y good wine selected based upon their preferences which we know well...one a Cabernet guy, the other a Chardonnay guy....gifts that said we care and pay attention.
I suspect I may be a naif on topics like this one. I'm fine with that...I look for the personality and character not the bedroom activities of those I consider friends.
Aridog - It's important to them and that seems to be what matters. And apparently it's so important to them that erstwhile scholars have no compulsion to engage in research that is scientific, verifiable, and reproducable. Making things up (at least in the soft sciences) is sufficient, if the subject matter is deemed worthy.
Thank God this methodology hasn't infected medical research, beyond the anti-vaccination nonsense.
I used to read Science regularly, mostly papers in my field of chemistry. I no longer do though. The magazine's editors are infected with social agenda and even political opinions which is too bad. It didn't used to be that way. Britain's Nature is a little better.
The harder core specialty journals -- considered second tier in prestige -- are still OK as far as I know.
As far as the veracity of the hypothesis, that gays and minorities* change people's minds--I'm sure it depends completely on the particular gay or black person. For example, I doubt Crack EmCee or his hero, Ta-Nehisi Coates could convince anyone to support reparations. Reasonable people are repelled by their tactics--first and foremost by their lumping all whites together.
As for gays, would Titus make a good face-to-face advocate for gay issues? How about Dan Savage? People are mostly repelled by repellent personalities.
_________________
*The abstract mentioned that
On gay marriage, I went from WTF to sure, why not. I don't see how it can subvert the institution any more than the Kardashians or no fault divorce laws......I'm not so sure about gay adoptions. I'm sure that there are some gay couples who would make ok parents and that there are lots of others who would be disasters. You can bet that the successful parents will be celebrated, and the horror stories will be muted. You can also bet that any social scientist who examines the phenomenon will cook the books in favor of gay adoptions.
Good for him with the stepping up and fixing the record, but unfortunately the effects of the lie are already done.
I wonder if the number of false studies and doctored data exposed lately can ever break through the self-imposed blinders of people who believe statements just because they start with "studies show", or "scientists agree", or "professor shithead says" or "this link shows",or I read on the internet", etc, etc. All these prefaces are still just a lead in to some person's opinion, lie, or mistake. There is no magic truth created by the fancy stage and nice clothes that the magician wears. Wanting to believe, just makes you a mark.
Suspicion is smart, skepticism is wisdom, and wisdom is what happens when you pay attention and learn from your mistakes.
Michael Haz said...
Aridog - It's important to them and that seems to be what matters...
Getting laid was important to me, too, but I never detailed my exploits, past or current, to friends or associates. Once reason in my younger days was that I saw no point in advertising whom I was sleeping with...preffered to not have the competition. Selfish of me, I know. :-))
I also felt it was private and for me to reveal it openly was an insult to my various partners back in the day. Once upon a time I loved them all.
OT a bit but I note that Mattress Girl's parents are psychiatrists.
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