Wednesday, 1 June 2011

How science doesn't work.

 I hate bad surveys. a recent  survey about mobile phone use came up with the conclusion that mobiles cause brain cancer. Looking at it in very little detail  reveals that the survey has 4 classes.


1 .Probably Carcinogenic
2. Possibly Carcinogenic
3. Not Classifiable
4.
5.Probably not Carcinogenic

This sort of survey annoys me.. what about Possibly not Carcinogenic - you can't have a survey without a sit on the fence option and if you do - you have to have a balance either side. So if this survey was conducted sensibly would we know: are we borderline thinking Probably or borderline possibly (as there is a none existent number 4). GRRRRR!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13608444

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