"Beerfecte Researshes": A Scientific Fact!

[ewmayer]

NYTimes: For Scientists, a Beer Test Shows Results as a Litmus Test

ccording to the study, published in February in Oikos, a highly respected scientific journal, the more beer a scientist drinks, the less likely the scientist is to publish a paper or to have a paper cited by another researcher, a measure of a paper’s quality and importance.

We have ample local evidence for this phenomenon, for instance one can see it bubbling to the surface of this thread.

This may explain why, whenever Luke Welsh and I get together, my scientific productivity plummets, but I don't seem to mind all that much. *Burp* o o O

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

NYTimes: For Scientists, a Beer Test Shows Results as a Litmus Test

ccording to the study, published in February in Oikos, a highly respected scientific journal, the more beer a scientist drinks, the less likely the scientist is to publish a paper or to have a paper cited by another researcher, a measure of a paper’s quality and importance.

We have ample local evidence for this phenomenon, for instance one can see it bubbling to the surface of this thread.

This may explain why, whenever Luke Welsh and I get together, my scientific productivity plummets, but I don't seem to mind all that much. *Burp* o o O

When you read this sort of article in a general newspaper like the New York Times, your heart usually sinks at the unwarranted conclusions which the journalist draws - conclusions which are certainly not sanctioned by the study authors. I note, though, that this time the report does quote (at the end of the article) the author of the report when he cautions that the study only shows a negative correlation between beer drinking and scientific performance, not a causal one. The reporter then shows a partial understanding of the implications of that by saying that it can also be so that in fact the poor performance causes the beer drinking instead of the other way round. That, though, fails to acknowledge the much more plausible idea that in fact other factors cause both beer drinking and poor results.

[Uncwilly]

Most people that are involved in auto accidents have consumed carrots in the last week. Maybe we should ban carrots.

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Most people that are involved in auto accidents have consumed carrots in the last week.

Oh? Where is that reported?

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by cheesehead

Oh? Where is that reported?

The quote that I point to says 'year', but I have heard him say week or month as well.

http://www.dietitiancentral.com/mb/thread.cfm?TID=866
Second post (first long one), second paragraph.

[cheesehead]

Ah, I see. It's from a carrot-hating surgeon's diatribe against dieticians (http://www.surgicalroundsonline.com/...2006-07_01.asp).

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by cheesehead

Ah, I see. It's from a carrot-hating surgeon's diatribe against dieticians (http://www.surgicalroundsonline.com/...2006-07_01.asp).

I have heard about the link between carrots and auto accidents for some time now (~15 years)

We should ban DHMO, too.

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

I have heard about the link between carrots and auto accidents for some time now (~15 years)

Probably makes you wish that carrot-hating surgeon would move out of the house next door, doesn't it?

[retina]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Most people that are involved in auto accidents have consumed carrots in the last week. Maybe we should ban carrots.

Maybe we should ban cars, why pick on the poor carrot? At least with carrots we can get a donkey to replace the car.

[retina]

... or we can all change to using this donkey