Junk science
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Junk or bunk science is a pejorative term used to derogate purportedly scientific data, research, analyses or claims which are driven by perceived political, financial or other questionable motives. Compare with pseudoscience and controversial science.
As with many other ideological terms, there is often no political agreement as to which side of a debate constitutes "junk", and which "real" science, though the scientific community may have an overwhelming majority opinion. Public debates on environmental and public health issues seem particularly prone to this problem. These debates are further complicated when proponents of junk science use mass media to publicize outrageous claims or controversial research.
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Use of the term
John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton of PR Watch believe that the term "junk science" is often used to deride scientific findings which stand in the way of short-term corporate profit maximization. In their book Trust Us, We're Experts (2001), they write that industry has launched multi-million-dollar campaigns to position certain theories as "junk science," often failing to employ the scientific method themselves. For example, it is alleged that the tobacco industry has used the term "junk science" to describe research showing negative effects of smoking and second-hand smoke, through various astroturf groups. More consonant theories may be praised using the term "sound science". Another example for discrediting disliked scientific findings is a large industry campaign to "reposition global warming as theory, not fact" that is described in detail by Stauber and Rampton. Anti-global warming environmental scientists and spokespersons for corporations and government bureaucracies counter by saying that the scientific evidence used by their critics actually constitutes junk science and should not be used as a basis for policy.
See also
- Astroturfing
- Controversial science
- Fringe science
- Pathological science
- Propaganda
- Pseudoscience
- Scientific method
- Scientific misconduct
- Voodoo science
Further reading and information
- Chris Mooney, The Republican War on Science, (2005) ISBN 0465046754
External links
- Doubt is Their Product, Scientific American, June 2005, P.96-101
- Junk Science and the Art of Spin Doctoring, an analysis by Stewart Fist
- PR Watch, a publication that provides regular information about the PR industry and its activities
- How Big Tobacco Helped Create "the Junkman", analysis by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber
- SourceWatch, a wiki about propaganda and public relations.
- The PR Plot to Overheat the Earth, article by Bob Burton and Sheldon Rampton detailing industry's disinformation campaign about global warming
- Correcting Myths from Steven Milloy, links and analysis of claims by Milloy et al.
- "Fake Science -- Episode 265". This American Life, 5/21.
- Junking Science to Promote Tobacco from the American Journal of Public Health. November 2001, Vol 91, No. 11. By: Derek Yach, MBChB, MPH; and Stella Aguinaga Bialous, DrPH, MScN, RN.
- Junk Science study of Transportation example
- Paul D. Thacker "The Junkman Climbs to the Top" in Environmental Science & Technology
- JunkScience.com