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Post by Pietro on Jan 18, 2005 10:44:37 GMT -5
Well, what are we to do? Whether we are talking about global warming, evolution, or acupuncture we get conflicting "studies" from "scientists". I can see value in debate over interpretation of data butit seems even the data is inconsistent. What are we to do?
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Post by heathen76 on Jan 18, 2005 11:34:05 GMT -5
What bothers me is the role that the media plays. For instance, if a study suggests that a minor ingredient of Fritos Corn chips causes toe cancer, the media jumps all over it even if the study shows that it is a miniscule chance of occurence. Conflicting studies are all over the media and people eventually kind of tune it out. The media needs to quite "crying wolf" and the scientific community needs to clarify the explanations of their resutls.
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Post by LauraJean on Jan 18, 2005 11:41:21 GMT -5
I agree with you, Bob! One of the greatest gifts one of my high school science teachers gave me was to teach me to criticaly evaluate a study. Many times you can read the details of a study and determine whether or not the conclusions drawn are valid.
I'm eager to read Michael Crichton's new novel as I understand it speaks directly to the issue you've raised.
Have a blessed day! Steve
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Post by heathen76 on Jan 18, 2005 11:50:49 GMT -5
I agree with you, Bob! One of the greatest gifts one of my high school science teachers gave me was to teach me to criticaly evaluate a study. Many times you can read the details of a study and determine whether or not the conclusions drawn are valid. I'm eager to read Michael Crichton's new novel as I understand it speaks directly to the issue you've raised. Have a blessed day! Steve Steve- I am not a Crichton fan, but please let us know how the book was when you are done with it. Bob
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Post by Pietro on Jan 18, 2005 13:36:00 GMT -5
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Post by Pietro on Jan 18, 2005 14:42:41 GMT -5
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Post by Traffic Demon on Jan 27, 2005 16:07:14 GMT -5
Pietro - "Whether we are talking about global warming, evolution, or acupuncture we get conflicting 'studies' from 'scientists'. I can see value in debate over interpretation of data butit seems even the data is inconsistent."
First, pet peeve here, the data are inconsistent. Sorry.
I agree that the media is often at fault for misrepresenting the conclusions of scientists, whether through dumbing down their words for their audiences, playing to bias, jumping the gun on inconclusive results, or stating things as conclusions when they are not, but just as much fault lies with us as readers for being unwilling to examine the source of those claims and/or to acquire the knowledge necessary to understand those claims for ourselves. We can't interpret what we don't read, nor can we interpret what we don't understand.
--TDv2.0 1:4:9
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Post by Pietro on Jan 31, 2005 15:14:41 GMT -5
Pietro - "Whether we are talking about global warming, evolution, or acupuncture we get conflicting 'studies' from 'scientists'. I can see value in debate over interpretation of data butit seems even the data is inconsistent."First, pet peeve here, the data are inconsistent. Sorry. My dictionary says either way: Main Entry: da·ta Pronunciation: 'dA-t&, 'da- also 'dä- Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction Usage: often attributive Etymology: Latin, plural of datum 1 : factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation < the data is plentiful and easily available -- H. A. Gleason, Jr.> <comprehensive data on economic growth have been published -- N. H. Jacoby> Usage Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (as they, them); and as an abstract pkmtyolm noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it. www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=data&x=9&y=11
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Post by heathen76 on Jan 31, 2005 17:15:21 GMT -5
My Master's degree advisor was really picky about "data are" vs. "data is". Actually, he was really picky about everything, but that one was the toughest to overcome. I think that the serious scientists still use data as the plural form.
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