Office of Energetics and Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294.
Office of Energetics and Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Mar 13;115(11):2563-2570. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1708279115.
Some aspects of science, taken at the broadest level, are universal in empirical research. These include collecting, analyzing, and reporting data. In each of these aspects, errors can and do occur. In this work, we first discuss the importance of focusing on statistical and data errors to continually improve the practice of science. We then describe underlying themes of the types of errors and postulate contributing factors. To do so, we describe a case series of relatively severe data and statistical errors coupled with surveys of some types of errors to better characterize the magnitude, frequency, and trends. Having examined these errors, we then discuss the consequences of specific errors or classes of errors. Finally, given the extracted themes, we discuss methodological, cultural, and system-level approaches to reducing the frequency of commonly observed errors. These approaches will plausibly contribute to the self-critical, self-correcting, ever-evolving practice of science, and ultimately to furthering knowledge.
从最广泛的层面来看，科学的某些方面在经验研究中是普遍存在的。这些方面包括数据的收集、分析和报告。在这些方面中，错误都有可能发生。在这项工作中，我们首先讨论了关注统计和数据错误以不断改进科学实践的重要性。然后，我们描述了错误类型的潜在主题，并假设了促成因素。为此，我们描述了一系列相对严重的数据和统计错误案例，并结合一些类型的错误调查，以更好地描述其幅度、频率和趋势。在检查了这些错误之后，我们讨论了特定错误或错误类别的后果。最后，鉴于提取的主题，我们讨论了减少常见错误的频率的方法学、文化和系统层面的方法。这些方法很可能有助于科学的自我批判、自我纠正和不断发展，从而最终推动知识的发展。
