Wiley S. No to Negative Data. Why I believe findings that disprove a hypothesis are largely not worth publishing. The Scientist 2008;22(4):39
The article discusses the recent disinclination of scientific journals towards publishing negative data. The problem with negative results is that they are seen as not actually advancing science. Being science based on a set of ideas supported by observations, a negative result is considered as not supporting any specific idea. Certainly it has to be considered that even some of the positive data published are wrong, and they eventually suffer the fate of all scientific errors, that is to be abandoned. The solution to that bias is seen in treating published results more skeptically.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/54459/
The article discusses the recent disinclination of scientific journals towards publishing negative data. The problem with negative results is that they are seen as not actually advancing science. Being science based on a set of ideas supported by observations, a negative result is considered as not supporting any specific idea. Certainly it has to be considered that even some of the positive data published are wrong, and they eventually suffer the fate of all scientific errors, that is to be abandoned. The solution to that bias is seen in treating published results more skeptically.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/54459/
Comments
Negative Data.