Perspectives on Scientific Error | 6th edition

In the last decade, several studies have raised concerns about a high prevalence of errors in published research. Theoretical arguments have suggested the possibility that the number of false claims in the scientific literature is much higher than desired and reports across fields have subsequently shown that many findings that researchers believed were firmly established failed to replicate. These erroneous claims in the scientific literature raise important issues. From an empirical practitioner’s perspective, errors mislead and slow down research projects. From a philosophical perspective, scientific error raises questions about the right forms of scientific inference, scientific progress, and the reliability of science as a source of knowledge. From the perspective of the general public, scientific error undermines the epistemic authority of science and the degree to which policy-makers trust scientific experts.