Nullius in Verba

The podcast dives into the potential pitfalls of premature experimentation in psychology. It questions whether traditional methods overshadow other approaches, using an amusing Martian analogy to illustrate funding disparities in research. Historical critiques and the evolution of psychological methodologies are dissected, highlighting the need for diverse research techniques. A discussion on the significance of qualitative research reveals its often-overlooked value. The complexities of measuring true understanding and the pitfalls of conventional norms provide a compelling call for innovation in psychological inquiry.

Dive into the fascinating world of exploratory experimentation, where scientists venture into the unknown without rigid hypotheses. Discover why this innovative approach is often undervalued in the research community, contrary to its potential for groundbreaking findings. The importance of transparent documentation in building credibility is highlighted, along with the challenges young researchers face amidst academic pressures. Plus, explore the unique crossroads of psychology, AI, and sports science that redefine how we understand exploratory research.

This is the final installment of the three-part series on Paul Meehl's unpublished book, The Seven Sacred Cows of Academia.

Dive into the debate on classroom size and its effects on education quality, questioning if smaller classes really yield better results. Explore the gap between student expectations and faculty interactions, particularly in different classroom settings. The conversation critiques the pressures of academic publishing, emphasizing quality over quantity, and challenges traditional views on scientific contributions. Finally, it addresses the urgent need to rethink publication practices in academia, urging a shift from personal gain to meaningful scholarship.

Dive into the complexities of higher education as the hosts dissect Paul Meehl's unpublished insights on transforming academia. They tackle pressing budget cuts, questioning long-standing beliefs and advocating for a deeper integration of teaching and research. Explore the dynamics of vocational education, contrasting cultural perceptions of student preparedness, and the shift from traditional lectures to engaging online formats. This engaging discussion challenges the norms while envisioning a more effective and inclusive educational landscape.

In this episode, we discuss science communication. What is the purpose of science communication? Who does or should engage in it? Are there negative consequences of communicating science to the public? And what should we discuss over coffee and sandwiches?   Shownotes Joubert, M. (2019). Beyond the Sagan effect. Nature Astronomy, 3(2), 131-132. Martinez-Conde, S. (2016). Has contemporary academia outgrown the Carl Sagan effect?. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(7), 2077-2082. Turner, J. (1962). Some Coffee and Sandwiches? Science, 136, 231-231.  Bruine de Bruin, W., & Bostrom, A. (2013). Assessing what to address in science communication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(3), 14062-14068. Burns, T. W., O'Connor, D. J., & Stocklmayer, S. M. (2003). Science communication: a contemporary definition. Public Understanding of Science, 12(2), 183-202. Fischhoff, B. (2013). The sciences of science communication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(3), 14033-14039.  

Censorship in the Sciences: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Conference: https://dornsife.usc.edu/cesr/censorship-in-the-sciences-interdisciplinary-perspectives/    How Woke Warriors Destroyed Anthropology - Elizabeth Weiss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpWN_CsuiRc&t=392s    Clark, C. J., Jussim, L., Frey, K., Stevens, S. T., Al-Gharbi, M., Aquino, K., ... & von Hippel, W. (2023). Prosocial motives underlie scientific censorship by scientists: A perspective and research agenda. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(48), e2301642120.    The vertebra of Galileo in Palace Bo in Padova: https://heritage.unipd.it/en/vertebra-galileo/    The association between early career informal mentorship in academic collaborations and junior author performance https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19723-8    Stefano Comino, Alberto Galasso, Clara Graziano, Censorship, industry structure, and creativity: evidence from the Catholic Inquisition in Renaissance Venice, The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, 2024, ewae015, https://doi.org/10.1093/jleo/ewae015    Bernouilli’s fallacy https://aubreyclayton.com/bernoulli  Jerzy Neyman: A Positive Role Model in the History of Frequentist Statistics https://daniellakens.blogspot.com/2021/09/jerzy-neyman-positive-role-model-in.html

The hosts dissect the impactful research of Ioannidis, revealing the alarming prevalence of false findings in behavioral sciences. They address the crises of credibility and research biases, like p-hacking, that endanger scientific integrity. Listeners learn about the complexities of probability in medical research and the significance of replication. The discussion emphasizes the need for transparency and rigorous methods, shedding light on how flawed reporting can distort the truth in academic publishing.

In preparation for our discussion of "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False" by John Ioannidis from 2005, we read a very similar paper published 40 years earlier: Neher, A. (1967). Probability Pyramiding, Research Error and the Need for Independent Replication. The Psychological Record, 17(2), 257–262. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393713

In this episode, we discuss what separates science from pseudoscience and touch upon the demarcation problem, the recent controversial podcast called the Telepathy Tapes, and the movie Ghostbusters. Enjoy.    Shownotes McLean v. Arkansas  Pigliucci, M., & Boudry, M. (Eds.). (2019). Philosophy of pseudoscience: Reconsidering the demarcation problem. University of Chicago Press. Report of the Royal Commission to Investigate Animal Magnetism The Telepathy Tapes Frankfurt, H. G. (2009). On bullshit. Moberger, V. (2020). Bullshit, pseudoscience and pseudophilosophy. Theoria, 86(5), 595–611. Ghostbusters (1984) - Venkman's ESP Test Scene