[ExI] israelis defeat physics

[painlord2k at libero.it]

Il 09/03/2009 10.26, BillK ha scritto:
> On 3/9/09, spike wrote:
>> Cool, thanks Fred, that explanation sounds reasonable.  I don't
>> think the clowns that wrote that silly piece have anything to do
>> with the Lancet, which I recall as being quite careful and
>> credible, other than an absurd claim about the number of war deaths
>> in Iraq a few years ago.  I shoulda checked it before assuming all
>> is as it claimed to be.  Apologies Lancet, welcome back.

> The Lancet piece about Iraq war deaths is still regarded as best
> practice.

> Quote: The ORB and Lancet survey figures are the only statistically
> accurate casualty figures which are intended to show the total deaths
> (rather than lower limits, provided by surveys of only those deaths
> reported to authorities or media agencies).


I would reconsider this claim:

http://www.aapor.org/aaporfindsgilbertburnhaminviolationofethicscode
AAPOR Finds Gilbert Burnham in Violation of Ethics Code

> Press Release – February 4, 2009
>
> AAPOR Finds Gilbert Burnham in Violation of Ethics Code
>
> Wednesday, February 3, 2009 -- The Executive Council of the American
> Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) announced Tuesday
> that an 8-month investigation found that Dr. Gilbert Burnham violated
> the Association's Code of Professional Ethics & Practices.
>
> AAPOR found that Burnham, a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins
> Bloomberg School of Public Health, repeatedly refused to make public
> essential facts about his research on civilian deaths in Iraq.  In
> particular, the AAPOR inquiry focused on Burnham’s publication of
> results from a survey reported in the October 2006 issue of the
> journal Lancet.  When asked to provide several basic facts about this
> research, Burnham refused.
>
> AAPOR holds that researchers must disclose, or make available for
> public disclosure, the wording of questions and other basic
> methodological details when survey findings are made public.  This
> disclosure is important so that claims made on the basis of survey
> research findings can be independently evaluated.  Section III of the
> AAPOR Code states: "Good professional practice imposes the obligation
> upon all public opinion researchers to include, in any report of
> research results, or to make available when that report is released,
> certain essential information about how the research was conducted."
>
> Mary E. Losch, chair of AAPOR's Standards Committee, noted that
> AAPOR's investigation of Burnham began in March 2008, after receiving
> a complaint from a member. According to Losch, "AAPOR formally
> requested on more than one occasion from Dr. Burnham some basic
> information about his survey including, for example, the wording of
> the questions he used, instructions and explanations that were
> provided to respondents, and a summary of the outcomes for all
> households selected as potential participants in the survey.  Dr.
> Burnham provided only partial information and explicitly refused to
> provide complete information about the basic elements of his
> research.”
>
> AAPOR's President, Richard A. Kulka, added "When researchers draw
> important conclusions and make public statements and arguments based
> on survey research data, then subsequently refuse to answer even
> basic questions about how their research was conducted, this violates
> the fundamental standards of science, seriously undermines open
> public debate on critical issues, and undermines the credibility of
> all survey and public opinion research.  These concerns have been at
> the foundation of AAPOR’s standards and professional code throughout
> our history, and when these principles have clearly been violated,
> making the public aware of these violations is in integral part of
> our mission and values as a professional organization."
>
> AAPOR is the leading professional organization of public opinion and
> survey research professionals in the U.S., with nearly 2,200 members
> from government agencies, colleges and universities, nonprofit
> organizations, media corporations, and commercial polling firms. It
> is committed to the principle that public opinion research is
> essential to a healthy democracy, providing information crucial to
> informed policymaking and giving voice to the nation’s beliefs,
> attitudes, desires, and shared experiences.  To ensure that public
> opinion research can continue to play this critical role, AAPOR has a
> strong interest in protecting and strengthening the credibility of
> survey research. AAPOR promotes the sound and ethical conduct and use
> of public opinion research, along with greater public awareness of
> these standards.
>
> Burnham is not a member of the organization

Mirco