In some fields the group of investigators is so small it makes conficts of interest virtually impossible to avoid. I have often wondered if a particular lab has had dozens or more graduates how hard it would be to avoid these things. Further, the opportunity to allow something through that is questionable, even if unintentiona is pretty high when the community is small enough a large chunck of qualified reviewers are from teh same group or lab. So much dishonesty in so many areas today. If peope can subconsciously suppress racial and gender groups, why could they not subconsciosly promote or supress people and/or groups of investigators whom they know. I can see this happening in peer review, interview processes, grading, whatever. I am not saying it does happen, just that the large number of subconscious prejudices each of us must be very difficult to entirely suppress. This peer review scandal need not be deliberate, but wow, does it look that way!
On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 11:46 AM, David Inouye <[email protected]> wrote: > I hope this hasn't been an issue in ecology. > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/ > 27/fabricated-peer-reviews-prompt-scientific-journal-to- > retract-43-papers-systematic-scheme-may-affect-other-journals/ > -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Environmental Studies Program Green Mountain College Poultney, Vermont “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
