Neuroscience
This article appeared on the BBC news site. Finally, a story about the sensationistic coverage of scientific findings in the popular press.
Media 'sensationalising science'
A report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), an independent research group, has accused the UK media of sensationalising science.
It says irresponsible reporting can undermine public confidence in science and government, and on issues like vaccination may even cost lives.
Here's my favorite part of the article:
- Older People Have More Black And White Dreams
If you dream in colour, you're not alone: the majority of people today claim to have colourful dreams. But it wasn't always thus. Research conducted in the early part of the last century consistently found that people reported dreaming most often...
- The Voodoo Of Peer Review
Are blogs good or bad for the enterprise of scientific peer review? At present, the system relies on anonymous referees to provide "unbiased" opinions of a paper's (or grant's) merits. For today, the discussion will focus on peer review of papers...
- Belgian Study Touts Open Access Publishing For Eu
Elsevier is bad, says 112 page report. Brussels delivers blow to Reed Elsevier · Pricing of journal papers 'impedes science progress' · Internet access proposal puts lucrative trade at risk Richard Wray Wednesday April 19, 2006 The Guardian...
- Social Media As Science Facilitator
A good read from the Dana Foundation Blog: Social Media as Science Facilitator Dana Foundation Blog 17 February 2012 Social media creates a new culture surrounding science. Read the blog post...
- Study Media And Politics Online This Winter Session!
GVPT479E Seminar in American Politics: Media and Politics: This course will introduce students to the various ways in which the media has and continues to play a role in American politics. Historical trends—from the partisan press of the 19th century,...
Neuroscience
The Media? Sensationalistic?
This article appeared on the BBC news site. Finally, a story about the sensationistic coverage of scientific findings in the popular press.
Media 'sensationalising science'
A report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), an independent research group, has accused the UK media of sensationalising science.
It says irresponsible reporting can undermine public confidence in science and government, and on issues like vaccination may even cost lives.
Here's my favorite part of the article:
Claudia Wood of the SMF said journalists tend to seek black and white stories and look for certainties which cannot be provided by science.
"The media has to be very aware that what it says can have huge impacts on the public's behaviour," she told the BBC.
"I think the media has to be very cautious in how it gives over scientific evidence, and has to make sure that people understand that there are certain risks to some things but a lot of the time evidence isn't conclusive."
The Neurocritic is of the opinion that the desire to get one's research published in high-profile journals and the popular press can drive many (formerly open-minded) scientists to write pathetically simplistic papers that completely ignore any findings in the literature that may disagree with their own results. Competition between editors at the various high-profile journals only feeds this compulsion for the black & white result that'll look good in the NY Times, when the reality is a shade of gray. Gray doesn't sell, however.
- Older People Have More Black And White Dreams
If you dream in colour, you're not alone: the majority of people today claim to have colourful dreams. But it wasn't always thus. Research conducted in the early part of the last century consistently found that people reported dreaming most often...
- The Voodoo Of Peer Review
Are blogs good or bad for the enterprise of scientific peer review? At present, the system relies on anonymous referees to provide "unbiased" opinions of a paper's (or grant's) merits. For today, the discussion will focus on peer review of papers...
- Belgian Study Touts Open Access Publishing For Eu
Elsevier is bad, says 112 page report. Brussels delivers blow to Reed Elsevier · Pricing of journal papers 'impedes science progress' · Internet access proposal puts lucrative trade at risk Richard Wray Wednesday April 19, 2006 The Guardian...
- Social Media As Science Facilitator
A good read from the Dana Foundation Blog: Social Media as Science Facilitator Dana Foundation Blog 17 February 2012 Social media creates a new culture surrounding science. Read the blog post...
- Study Media And Politics Online This Winter Session!
GVPT479E Seminar in American Politics: Media and Politics: This course will introduce students to the various ways in which the media has and continues to play a role in American politics. Historical trends—from the partisan press of the 19th century,...