What Does Junk Science Mean?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The expression junk science is used to

describe scientific data, research, or analysis considered by the person using the phrase to be spurious or fraudulent

. The concept is often invoked in political and legal contexts where facts and scientific results have a great amount of weight in making a determination.

What is the difference between sound science and junk science?

Sound science is a phrase often used by corporate public relations and government agency spokesmen to describe the scientific research used to justify a claim or position. …

Junk science is often presented as the opposite of “sound science

,” usually for propagandistic purposes that favor industry.

What is considered junk science?

The expression junk science is used to

describe scientific data, research, or analysis considered by the person using the phrase to be spurious or fraudulent

. The concept is often invoked in political and legal contexts where facts and scientific results have a great amount of weight in making a determination.

Why is junk science important?

Not only does the existence of junk science lead

to people being misinformed about important issues

, it also does enormous damage by undermining real scientific evidence: the sort of evidence which helps to better inform public policy and to assist individuals in living better and healthier lives.

What is the opposite of junk science?

evidence-based practice science
empirical science


empiricism
discipline knowledge system branch technique field

How does the court protect against junk science?

To protect against the use of such “junk science” in the courtroom, the United States Supreme Court issued a series of rulings in the 1990s—

known as the Daubert trilogy—instructing trial courts to act as gatekeepers so as to only allow relevant and reliable scientific evidence to be presented to a jury

.

Is blood spatter junk science?

Some of the methods, including bite-mark comparisons and blood-spatter analysis, are now considered by many researchers to be

scientifically dubious

, responsible for dozens of wrongful convictions and deserving no place in the criminal justice system.

Is the science of sound?


Acoustics

. Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound.

What is good science and bad science?

If a scientist were to follow the scientific method, a

“good” scientist’s understanding of the environment changes as additional data are acquired

, whereas a “bad” scientist sticks stubbornly to previously held beliefs despite being faced with data that suggest an alternative scenario.

What is the key to good science?

Invent a

theory

that is consistent with what you have observed. Use the theory to make predictions. Test those predictions by experiments or further observations. Modify the theory in the light of your results.

What other junk science correlations can you identify?

  • climate change.
  • energy subsidies.
  • renewable vs. nonrenewable energy.
  • DNA research.
  • firearms.
  • wildlife conservation.
  • pollution.
  • vaccinations and side effects.

How often is forensic science wrong?

Error Rates: Most forensic sciences lack good information about how often examiners make mistakes – a basic requirement of any good science. Experts testifying in court often

claim error rates for their technique is zero

.

What should happen to cases that relied upon junk science to help convict the suspect?

Cases that relied upon ‘junk science’ to help convict the suspect should either

go through a retrial to see if they can get any kind of conviction on the factual evidence presented

. If not, they should be exonerated. Forensic science can try to reduce errors through quality control and quality analysis.

What is scientifically sound?

Scientifically sound means

adhering to the require- ments of best available science

as defined in WAC 365-195- 905 (5)(a) and (b).

What is sound science based off of?

Sound science implies that a set of data, facts, or

conclusions of a scientific nature

are supported by studies that follow the high standards of the scientific method.

What is sound scientific evidence?

sound scientific evidence means

observations, findings, or conclusions which are statistically and epidemiologically valid, are statistically significant, are capable of replication, and withstand peer review

, and ‘sound medical evidence’ means observations, findings, or conclusions which are consistent with current …

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.