A Skeptical Look at Scientific Studies

It's frustrating how hard it is to find unbiased scientific analysis of a topic once it has become politicized. If you're interesting in getting at the truth of some controversial matter, you're left with no choice except slogging through reams of competing "scientific facts". Since most of us aren't well trained in statistics, we're subject to being fooled by numerical sleight of hand.

I ran across this article today in an old Skeptical Inquirer laying around the gym at work. It explains why studies that use econometric modeling are not as reliable as comparitive studies.

Don't let the big words scare you off. The article is written for the layperson. The author uses studies of the relationship between capital punishment and murder rates as an example, but the article is relevant to other political topics from minimum wage laws to global warming.

Ted Goertzel, Skeptical Inquirer"Capital Punishment and Homicide: Sociological Realities and Econometric Illusions"