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Author Topic:   Harvard Researcher May Have Fabricated Data
Percy
Member
Posts: 22388
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 1 of 65 (577498)
08-29-2010 9:35 AM


Marc Hauser May Have Fabricated Data at Harvard Lab - The New York Times
Excerpts:
"Harvard authorities have made available information suggesting that Marc Hauser, a star researcher who was put on leave this month, may have fabricated data in a 2002 paper...
"Some forms of scientific error, like poor record keeping or even mistaken results, are forgivable, but fabrication of data, if such a charge were to be proved against Dr. Hauser, is usually followed by expulsion from the scientific community...
"Dr. Hauser’s case is unusual, however, because of his substantial contributions to the fields of animal cognition and the basis of morality. Dr. Altmann held out the possibility of redemption. If he were to give a full and frank account of the errors he made, then the process can start of repatriating him into the community in some form, he said...
"The small size of the field in which Dr. Hauser worked has contributed to the uncertainty. Only a handful of laboratories have primate colonies available for studying cognition, so few if any researchers could check Dr. Hauser’s claims.
--Percy

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by Taz, posted 08-29-2010 4:05 PM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22388
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 12 of 65 (577637)
08-29-2010 8:54 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by Bolder-dash
08-29-2010 7:23 PM


Bolder-dash writes:
Surely you are not also going to claim that because a guy lie and cheated, and was caught by a major university, and they actually did something about it, that this is a great badge of honor for the scientific community are you?
The events at Harvard are an example of the self correcting nature of science. It isn't possible for a researcher to hide things he makes up about the real world because other researchers will try to replicate his results and see if the real world really behaves as he claims.
What's interesting about this case is that it didn't even get to the point of failed attempts at replication. His own students turned him in.
It would be nice if religion would shut down their charlatans, like faith healers Peter Popoff and Benny Hinn.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by Bolder-dash, posted 08-29-2010 7:23 PM Bolder-dash has not replied

  
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