Earthtalk

As a scientist, I read Daniel Engber’s article “The Fraudulent Science of Success” (January, 2025 issue of The Atlantic) with great interest. The breadth and depth of the falsification of data by academic business researchers was disturbing as was the degree to which it was ignored by prestigious business schools and journals. I take issue with the use of the words science, scientific, and scientist throughout the article. Scientists have enough trouble with credibility as it is, without also taking on the misbehavior of nonscientists. Because researchers run experiments, collect data, and manipulate it with statistics, does not make them scientists. Using statistical analyis to predict human behavior does not lend itself to objective observation or replication in the field or laboratory, both requisites for true scientific research. The fields of business, economics, and sociology, for three examples, are social sciences at best. This distinction is important to make, especially now, when sicence is under attack by the Trump administration.