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January 16, 2008
Do I say “thank you?”
It is a dubious honor to make the “Dubious Data” list at the Statistical Assessment Service once again. Every year, this science media watchdog agency picks out the most egregious examples of bad science writing. In its list for 2007, there we are again, among the best of the worst for yet another year. In fact, the author of the column, a New York-based, British-born journalist named Trevor Butterworth has even coined a word for the kind of coverage we too often get – “phthalatophobia,” which he identifies as a sub-category of “chemophobia.” His annual column is fun to read, but a dispiriting comment on the frequent failure of reporters to “check it out” before putting pen to paper.
Posted by Marian at January 16, 2008 8:47 PM