It is likely that many published studies represent random fluctuations in data,rather than true phenomena.How do scientists guard against this possibility?
A)They recalculate the statistics of the published study.
B)They ask for replications of surprising results.
C)They accuse the author of fraud if the results seem surprising.
D)They disbelieve any result that does not have a strong theoretical basis.

Question

It is likely that many published studies represent random fluctuations in data,rather than true phenomena.How do scientists guard against this possibility?​
A)They recalculate the statistics of the published study.
B)​They ask for replications of surprising results.
C)​They accuse the author of fraud if the results seem surprising.
D)​They disbelieve any result that does not have a strong theoretical basis.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking for replications of surprising results is one way that scientists guard against the possibility that a published study represents random fluctuations in data. If the result is a true phenomenon, it should be replicable in other studies. Recalculating statistics is also a good practice, but it may not be enough to confirm the validity of the result. Accusing the author of fraud is not a productive way to approach the issue and can damage the reputation of the author and the scientific community. Disbelieving any result that does not have a strong theoretical basis can be limiting because scientific breakthroughs often challenge prevailing theories.

It Is Likely That Many Published Studies Represent Random Fluctuations