Summary: <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/the-science-of-creativity/">Science</a> is a powerful tool. It can change the world, improve our understanding of our universe, and help us find new and innovative ways to solve problems. But science is only as good as the data it uses, and bad science can lead us astray.<br> <br> Over the last few years, I've written several articles and recorded a similar number of podcasts on ethics related to innovation. Just as this is titled Bad Science, we could have titled it Bad Innovation.<br> In this episode, we explore how to determine whether the science you are reading is accurate or not.<br> The inspiration for this episode came from an infographic created by Compound Interest (<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://compoundchem.com/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1662400023967692%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1AjB0bKGAFNrbCIuldUM1z&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1662400024006009&usg=AOvVaw3nUuNbG3a3W74HeN03SYCQ">compoundchem.com</a>). I've taken the list of ways to spot bad science and created my descriptions with examples — but all credit goes to @compoundchem.<br> 12 Ways To Spot Bad Science<br> There are many ways to identify bad science studies and articles that publish the results, but here are twelve of the most common. You can protect yourself from being misled by being aware of these red flags.<br> 1) Sensationalised Headlines<br> <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/the-failure-of-innovation-journalism/">Sensationalized headlines</a> can be incredibly misleading. They often over-simplify the findings or, worse, misrepresent them entirely. Misinterpretation can lead to bad decision-making on the reader's part and ultimately negatively impact.<br> It's essential to be discerning when reading science articles and always to consider the source of information. Reputable sources always aim to present accurate information, while less reputable sources may sensationalize information to get more readers/viewers. In the long run, this can muddy the waters and make it more difficult for people to discern what is true.<br> An example of a misleading sensationalized headline would be the article “A New Drug Can Cure Alcoholism,” published by The Sun. The report claims that a new drug called Selincro can “cure” alcoholism, but this is not the case. Selincro is for alcohol dependence, not alcoholism, and it does not cure addiction.<br> 2) Misinterpreted Results<br> Misinterpreted results can often lead to bad science and innovation. Research in the media can be sensationalized or simplified in a way that distorts the actual findings. Simplification can lead to poor decisions being made based on inaccurate information. Therefore, reading the original research to understand what was studied is essential. Only then can informed decisions be made about whether the findings apply to your work.<br> One example of misinterpreted results would be the oft-cited study that claimed eating chocolate can help you lose weight. Later found to be flawed, and the author had to retract his findings.<br> 3) Conflict of Interest<br> Science often thought of as a purely objective pursuit, is unaffected by the biases and motivations of the people involved. However, scientists are people, and their interests and agendas can influence them. Their agenda is a conflict of interest.<br> A conflict of interest can distort scientific research and make poor decisions. For example, scientists might be more likely to publish results that support their theory or downplay negative results.<br> Conflicts of interest can also hurt innovation. Innovators seeking patents or commercial opportunities are less likely to share their findings with others. Lack of information sharing can stifle innovation and prevent the development of new ideas.<br> Ultimately, it is crucial to recognize that conflicts of interest exist,
