The Psychologist: "Does psychology face an exaggeration crisis?", article by Brian Hughes

https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-31/october-2018/does-psychology-face-exaggeration-crisis

Seems to me that many of the things he talks about aren't exclusive to the psychology world.

 

Wow - @Brian Hughes is not backwards in coming forwards is he! Well done Brian .

 

One could say that psychology is too positive .

 

Well said @Brian Hughes

It is so frustrating that issues being discussed forty years ago and more have still not been properly addressed.

 

"Further inflation inflects from the interface of academia, public relations, media churnalism, and secondary reporting. When university press officers convert abstracts into press releases, the process frequently involves cherry-picking of results, non-specialist re-writing, and a sanguine tolerance of error. These processes of ‘sharpening’ afflict all kinds of news-reporting."

hmmm, sounds familiar

 

Very interesting article, @Brian Hughes - how is it going down with your colleagues in psychology?

 

Indeed, it is an excellent example of one of the more destructive forms of positive feedback, where something goes into "runaway mode", recursively feeding on itself rather than on anything independently grounded.

I would think like a lead balloon in some quarters

 

Such clear and engaging writing - for me, it is not only @Brian Hughes content that makes his writing compelling, it is his disarming style: "Not another article about the crisis in psychology, you might complain..."

I think this is my favourite bit:

"So long as exaggeration in psychology is rewarded, it will continue to be prevalent. This just might include a tendency to exaggerate the degree to which our replication crisis is being successfully addressed, and to pat ourselves collectively on the back for all the good work we are doing."

I think @dave30th referred to this as a "circle jerk".

 

If it's not an intentional dig, it's still pretty good. That Independent article where Sharpe went too far and presented CBT/GET as a cure comes to mind as a perfect example of this type of dishonesty in research, hyping conclusions to a degree that is as far from the conclusion as the conclusion is from the underlying data.

Sharpening: to exaggerate the results of bad science, itself conducted with deceit and without concern for the patients it claims to help. Ah, to be a verb, a fitting legacy to hubris and unscientific thought.

 

A pointed remark?

 

Good question. My immediate thought was to wonder how this was all being received. My guess is that some of his colleagues -- the ones who've noticed the same issues -- are effusive in their praise. And the rest are grumbling darkly into their respective beers.

 

That's a new one on me; I like it.

Mike VanElzakker recently posted this one:

 

Kaiser Permanente says those practicing gratitude have better immune systems. I wish I were joking.

 

Surely not better than those of people already perfect at the art.

 

I found this article on the same website: https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/...onic-fatigue-syndrome-suitable-case-treatment

The article is from the 1990s, it's full of references to Wessely, Sharpe, White, Chalder, and even Elaine Showalter.

 

Were do they find them?

EDIT Perhaps there is an alternative hypothesis, that only those who don't really try very hard to get better do.

EDIT My mistake. I thought this must be the Peter Spencer associated with Afme, but it appears that the only similarity is the name.

 

And yet penetratingly blunt.

 

I thnk you're quoting the new political holy grail.

If only all citizens would be grateful for the oppressive policies of government (in league with corporations). What a happy day that would be. The elite would throw an obscenely lavish celebration to mark the day. Oh, and we're not invited.

Gratitude is the ultimate placebo.

Edit for clarity