Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg How can we make science more trustworthy? (with Stuart Ritchie)
Jan 19, 2023
Stuart Ritchie, a Lecturer at King's College London specializing in human cognitive abilities, dives into pressing issues in science's credibility. He discusses the drastic decline of trust in scientific findings during COVID-19, attributing it to political factors and flawed studies. Ritchie explores the contentious debates over ivermectin and the complexities of vitamin D research, highlighting the challenges of reaching scientific consensus. He also unpacks the nuances of IQ testing, advocating for a broader understanding of intelligence that considers various cognitive factors.
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COVID-19 and Trust in Science
- The COVID-19 pandemic revealed what makes science trustworthy and untrustworthy.
- It showed how open and transparent pre-registered trials like vaccine trials correlate with better, trustworthy science.
Hydroxychloroquine Controversy
- Top medical journals like The Lancet and NEJM published, then retracted, papers on hydroxychloroquine.
- The papers, based on potentially flawed Surgisphere data, highlighted issues of trust and data verification in scientific publications.
Vitamin D and Correlation vs. Causation
- Many studies show correlations between low vitamin D and negative health outcomes.
- However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often fail to demonstrate a causal link, except perhaps for bone health in older women.