Difference between revisions of "Resource:716dca50-ee7d-4fc5-86f2-491d88d3cf4d"

From The Embassy of Good Science
(Created page with "{{Resource |Resource Type=Cases |Title=Mad Scientist: The Unique Case of a Published Delusion |Is About=. |Important Because=. |Important For=Researchers }} {{Link |Has Link=h...")
 
Line 2: Line 2:
 
|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Title=Mad Scientist: The Unique Case of a Published Delusion
 
|Title=Mad Scientist: The Unique Case of a Published Delusion
|Is About=.
+
|Is About=In 1951, entomologist Jay Traver published in the ''Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington'' her personal experiences with a mite infestation of her scalp that resisted all treatment and was undetectable to anyone other than herself. Traver is recognized as having suffered from Delusory Parasitosis: her paper shows her to be a textbook case of the condition. The Traver paper is unique in the scientific literature in that its conclusions may be based on data that was unconsciously fabricated by the author’s mind. The paper may merit retraction on the grounds of error or even scientific misconduct “by reason of insanity,” but such a retraction raises the issue of discrimination against the mentally ill. This article asks what responsibilities journals have when faced with delusions disguised as science, what right editors have to question the sanity of an author, and what should be done about the Traver paper itself<ref>https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11948-011-9339-2</ref>.
|Important Because=.
+
 
 +
 
 +
This is a factual case.
 +
|Important Because=By placing higher emphasis on article content than author identity, scientific integrity is maintained and a balance is struck between avoiding discrimination against the mentally ill and not preventing patients from seeking needed treatment<ref>https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11948-011-9339-2</ref>.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Journal
 
|Important For=Researchers
 
|Important For=Researchers
 
}}
 
}}
Line 13: Line 19:
 
|Involves=Traver paper
 
|Involves=Traver paper
 
|Has Timepoint=1951
 
|Has Timepoint=1951
|Has Location=USA
+
|Has Location=USA; United States
 
|Has Virtue And Value=Reliability; Honesty; Accountability
 
|Has Virtue And Value=Reliability; Honesty; Accountability
 
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Fabrication (unconsciously)
 
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Fabrication (unconsciously)
 
|Related To Research Area=Biological sciences
 
|Related To Research Area=Biological sciences
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 14:05, 18 May 2020

Cases

Mad Scientist: The Unique Case of a Published Delusion

What is this about?

In 1951, entomologist Jay Traver published in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington her personal experiences with a mite infestation of her scalp that resisted all treatment and was undetectable to anyone other than herself. Traver is recognized as having suffered from Delusory Parasitosis: her paper shows her to be a textbook case of the condition. The Traver paper is unique in the scientific literature in that its conclusions may be based on data that was unconsciously fabricated by the author’s mind. The paper may merit retraction on the grounds of error or even scientific misconduct “by reason of insanity,” but such a retraction raises the issue of discrimination against the mentally ill. This article asks what responsibilities journals have when faced with delusions disguised as science, what right editors have to question the sanity of an author, and what should be done about the Traver paper itself[1].


This is a factual case.

Why is this important?

By placing higher emphasis on article content than author identity, scientific integrity is maintained and a balance is struck between avoiding discrimination against the mentally ill and not preventing patients from seeking needed treatment[2].


Journal

For whom is this important?

Other information

When
Good Practices & Misconduct
Research Area
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.
5.1.6