Today's New York Times highlighted an article that exposes some deep concerns for me as a parent, as a health professional, a tax payer, and a citizen who potentially could be harmed by this report.
Having been involved in higher education in one or another my entire adult life I have seen how the competitive environment at these institutions operate. Teaching is less valued. Research dollars, opportunities and promotions are, though this article makes no mention of this point, distributed in a sexist fashion. Research findings are marketed, oft times erroneously (stretching the point to make the news).
Why should you be concerned about this chink in the armor? It pulls into question the very premise of what research offers us as a society, truth & understanding to better our lives. If the research is false, programs, drugs, equipment and treatments can be more harmful to us.
I'm glad to see that a stricter over-sight procedure is being developed. The question is can the field monitor themselves. I for one have very little trust in self-monitoring when money, careers and reputations are at stake. Cover-ups happen.
One need only to look at our banking & mortgage industry collapse of recent times, savings & loans of many years ago, Enron and other corporate debacles.
Self-regulation doesn't work. The one thing our "Forefathers" expressed in their system of government (our ability to govern) was that checks & balances were of prime importance.
This article doesn't surprise me. It does however concern me deeply. Higher education and it's research are vital to our knowledge and growth. Higher education is also an economic engine in and of itself and many cities and towns rely on that economic flow.
We can't let it fail by not making sure it is held to a higher standard. They will if they as a education and research business don't right these wrongs and clean-up their act.
Rise in Scientific Journal Retractions Prompts Calls for Reform - NYTimes.com:
'via Blog this'
