http://mindhacks.com/2011/07/05/doubts-about-social-contagion/ Neuroscience and psychology news and views. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:47:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://mindhacks.com/2011/07/05/doubts-about-social-contagion/#comment-20419 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 02:16:52 +0000 http://mindhacks.com/?p=18671#comment-20419 [...] Could all those social contagion studies be wrong!!!Doubts about social contagion – via Mind Hacks- Slate has an important article about how the studies behind last year’s headlines saying that things like divorce, obesity and loneliness spread through social networks like a ‘contagion’ may not be as sound as the stories suggested. [...]

]]> http://mindhacks.com/2011/07/05/doubts-about-social-contagion/#comment-20345 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:43:32 +0000 http://mindhacks.com/?p=18671#comment-20345 The authors are criticised for talking to the media about the conclusions before the results have been confirmed.
That’s a little harsh. Everyone who’s got a sexy result does this; the fault is with the reporting failing to follow up (or to place the research in a suitable context).

]]> http://mindhacks.com/2011/07/05/doubts-about-social-contagion/#comment-20330 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:37:35 +0000 http://mindhacks.com/?p=18671#comment-20330 It’s how you publicize anything that might not be true. You say “There is a study in progress which shows:”
As soon as there is reason to believe it MIGHT have scientific backing – Everyone grabs the headline, everyone discusses it and speculates about it.
Only the hardcore researchers wait and read the actual study when it is published 2 years later.
In the mean time any money that could be made off the results has been collected, and by the time the findings are released, the authors have moved on to something else even more sensational.

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