Recent events have vividly underscored the societal importance of
science, yet the majority of the public are unaware that a large
proportion of published scientific results are simply wrong. The
Problem with Science is an exploration of the manifestations and causes
of this scientific crisis, accompanied by a description of the very
promising corrective initiatives largely developed over the past decade
to stem the spate of irreproducible results that have come to
characterize many of our sciences.
More importantly, Dr. R. Barker Bausell has designed it to provide
guidance to practicing and aspiring scientists regarding how (a) to
change the way in which science has come to be both conducted and
reported in order to avoid producing false positive, irreproducible
results in their own work and (b) to change those institutional
practices (primarily but not exclusively involving the traditional
journal publishing process and the academic reward system) that have
unwittingly contributed to the present crisis. There is a need for
change in the scientific culture itself. A culture which prioritizes
conducting research correctly in order to get things right rather than
simply getting it published.