Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results
How do prior beliefs affect the interpretation of scientific results? I discuss a hypothetical scenario where researchers publish results that could either support a theory they believe in, or refute that theory, and ask if the two instances carry the same weight. More colloquially, I ask if we shou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231613 |
| _version_ | 1827386517977300992 |
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| author | Ami Eidels |
| author_facet | Ami Eidels |
| author_sort | Ami Eidels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How do prior beliefs affect the interpretation of scientific results? I discuss a hypothetical scenario where researchers publish results that could either support a theory they believe in, or refute that theory, and ask if the two instances carry the same weight. More colloquially, I ask if we should overweigh scientific results supporting a given theory and reported by a researcher, or a team, that initially did not support that theory. I illustrate the challenge using two examples from psychology: evidence accumulation models, and extra sensory perception. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:47:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16c851d180094c76b76019c520e324fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:47:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-16c851d180094c76b76019c520e324fd2024-01-09T09:59:12ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032023-12-01101210.1098/rsos.231613Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific resultsAmi Eidels0School of Psychological Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, AustraliaHow do prior beliefs affect the interpretation of scientific results? I discuss a hypothetical scenario where researchers publish results that could either support a theory they believe in, or refute that theory, and ask if the two instances carry the same weight. More colloquially, I ask if we should overweigh scientific results supporting a given theory and reported by a researcher, or a team, that initially did not support that theory. I illustrate the challenge using two examples from psychology: evidence accumulation models, and extra sensory perception.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231613metascienceresearch methodscredibilitytransparencyreplicationreal-time procedures |
| spellingShingle | Ami Eidels Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results Royal Society Open Science metascience research methods credibility transparency replication real-time procedures |
| title | Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| title_full | Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| title_fullStr | Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| title_short | Prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| title_sort | prior beliefs and the interpretation of scientific results |
| topic | metascience research methods credibility transparency replication real-time procedures |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231613 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amieidels priorbeliefsandtheinterpretationofscientificresults |