Fake science and the knowledge crisis: ignorance can be fatal.

ABSTRACT: Computers, the Internet and social media enable every individual to be a publisher, communicating true or false information instantly and globally. In the 'post-truth' era, deception is commonplace at all levels of contemporary life. Fakery affects science and social information and the two have become highly interactive globally, undermining trust in science and the capacity of individuals and society to make evidence-informed choices, including on life-or-death issues. Ironically, drivers of fake science are embedded in the current science publishing system intended to disseminate evidenced knowledge, in which the intersection of science advancement and reputational and financial rewards for scientists and publishers incentivize gaming and, in the extreme, creation and promotion of falsi

SUBMITTER: Hopf H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6549953 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature