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Science Fictions: Exposing Fraud, Bias, Negligence and Hype in Science Hardcover – 16 July 2020

by Stuart Ritchie (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 275 ratings
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'Thrilling... Ritchie reminds us that another world is possible' The Times Books of the Year 2020

So much relies on science. But what if science itself can't be relied on?

Medicine, education, psychology, health, parenting - wherever it really matters, we look to science for guidance. Science Fictions reveals the disturbing flaws that undermine our understanding of all of these fields and more.

While the scientific method will always be our best and only way of knowing about the world, in reality the current system of funding and publishing science not only fails to safeguard against scientists' inescapable biases and foibles, it actively encourages them. Many widely accepted and highly influential theories and claims - about 'priming' and 'growth mindset', sleep and nutrition, genes and the microbiome, as well as a host of drugs, allergies and therapies - turn out to be based on unreliable, exaggerated and even fraudulent papers. We can trace their influence in everything from austerity economics to the anti-vaccination movement, and occasionally count the cost of them in human lives.

Stuart Ritchie has been at the vanguard of a new reform movement within science aimed at exposing and fixing these problems. In this vital investigation, he gathers together the evidence of their full and shocking extent and proposes a host of remedies to save and protect this most valuable of human endeavours from itself.

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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bodley Head
  4. Publication date
    16 July 2020
  5. Dimensions
    16.2 x 16.2 x 24 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1847925650
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1847925657
  8. See all details
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Review

Thrilling ... Ritchie reminds us that another world is possible ― The Times

Fascinating and often shocking ― Sunday Times, Best Paperbacks of 2021

The most important science story of our times ... evocative and engaging ... sometimes funny, sometimes shocking ― Unherd

Excellent ... we need better science. That's why books like this are so important ― Evening Standard

Entertaining ... revelatory ... brilliantly highlights the problems in current practices and sets out a path towards new ones ― Daily Mail

A desperately important book, Science Fictions brilliantly exposes the fragility of the science on which lives, livelihoods and our whole society depend ... Required reading for everyone -- ADAM RUTHERFORD, author of How to Argue With a Racist

Ritchie's engaging tour of the dark side of research [...] has rumbled science's guilty secret ... the tragedy is that the current system does not just overlook our foibles, it amplifies them ... he's entertaining company ... an illuminating and thoughtful guide. Ultimately, he comes to praise science, not to bury it -- ROGER HIGHFIELD ― Literary Review

An engagingly accessible set of cautionary tales to show how science and scientists can be led astray, in some instances with fatal consequences ... clear-eyed and chillingly accurate ... should be compulsory reading for anyone involved in the communication of science to policy makers and to the public -- GINA RIPPON, author of The Gendered Brain

Gripping tales of increasing recent villainy and bias in the laboratory, which should worry those of us who love science -- MATT RIDLEY, author of How Innovation Works

All the replication-failure and scientific-misconduct stories you've ever heard are here - along with more that you haven't ... This comprehensive collection of mishaps, misdeeds and tales of caution is the great strength of Ritchie's offering ... Ritchie's four themes carve complex, interconnected issues at natural joints, and allow his case studies to shine -- Fiona Fidler ― Nature

He has come to praise science, not to bury it; nevertheless, his analyses of science's current ethical ills - fraud, hype, negligence and so on - are devastating -- Simon Ings ― Telegraph

Science Fictions... is a useful account of ten years or more of debate, mostly in specialist circles, about reproducibility -- John Whitfield ― London Review of Books

Science Fictions excellently performs its task of explaining data analysis and many statistical terms... Ritchie's explanatory abilities shine out -- David A. Sanders ― Times Higher Education

About the Author

Dr Stuart Ritchie is a Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and winner of the 2015 ‘Rising Star’ award from the Association for Psychological Science. He has written for The Times, Spectator, Washington Post, Wired, Literary Review and Aeon, and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 programmes The Infinite Monkey Cage, More or Less and Bringing Up Britain. His Twitter account is @StuartJRitchie.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bodley Head (16 July 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1847925650
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847925657
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 16.2 x 24 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 275 ratings

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Stuart Ritchie

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
275 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book invaluable, brilliant, and informative. They describe the writing quality as well-written, solid, and easy to read. Readers also find the book interesting, engaging, and an eye-opener.

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Knowledge levelWriting qualityEnjoyment
15 customers mention ‘Knowledge level’15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book invaluable, brilliant, and well-researched. They say it's an informative read with extensive examples and case studies. Readers also mention the book exposes weaknesses in current scientific research and suggests ways of dealing with them.

"...All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for anyone interested in science as a process and as a social construct." Read more

"This book presents a careful systematic review of the many pitfalls that can arise in the course of scientific research, and why it is so important..." Read more

"...And deliberate fraud. There are extensive interesting examples and case studies used to demonstrate the principles discussed...." Read more

"This book was quite an eye opener, exposing weaknesses in current scientific research and suggesting ways of dealing with these." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Writing quality’13 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book extraordinary, solid, and easy to read. They also say the book is down-to-earth and funny.

"Well written if somewhat depressing account of everything that is wrong with modern research...." Read more

"On the Royal Society Science Book Prize short list for 2021. Well written and interesting book...." Read more

"...It felt like an easy read, which is a superb skill when discussing complex areas of science...." Read more

"Well written description of all the main problems in current culture of research...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, engaging, and timely. They say it's an eye-opener that exposes weaknesses in current scientific research. Readers also mention it's well worth the wait.

"...All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for anyone interested in science as a process and as a social construct." Read more

"...Well written and interesting book. It covers the replication crisis, publication bias, p-hacking, hype etc. And deliberate fraud...." Read more

"This book was quite an eye opener, exposing weaknesses in current scientific research and suggesting ways of dealing with these." Read more

"...Anyone with a passion for truth-seeking should find this an “enjoyable read”." Read more

Informative, breezy read. Important book.
5 out of 5 stars
Informative, breezy read. Important book.
Fantastic book and an easy read, highly accessible to the lay-person. Dr Ritchie takes us on a tour de force of the problems in science. Simultaneously enlightening and terrifying, the author also points to ways science should be cleaned up/made better.It is to be hoped this volume will have the effect of improving the sciences, since as the author demonstrates it is not just "psychology" and the so called "social sciences" which have these problems, but even fields such as medicine, oncology etc.The non scientist who reads this volume is left all the better for it. The young scientist who fails to read this volume is left an idiot.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

RaM
5.0 out of 5 stars Once you read it, you will never think about science the same way
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2020
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Well written if somewhat depressing account of everything that is wrong with modern research. Every scandal you may have heard of - and many that you may have missed - is dissected by the author through an excruciating scientific post-mortem. Fortunately, we are not left to despair: the author outlines steps that scientific community can take to get out of the massive hole into which it's been dragged over the last few decades by misguided incentives. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for anyone interested in science as a process and as a social construct.
14 people found this helpful
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HeadDoctor
5.0 out of 5 stars How to tell good science from bad science.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2023
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This book presents a careful systematic review of the many pitfalls that can arise in the course of scientific research, and why it is so important to be aware of these. As a retired medical researcher who often reviewed other authors' papers for peer review prior to publication, I was aware of most of the content of this book before I read it. Nevertheless I have not previously come across such an excellent overall review of the subject. It shows, for example, why newspaper headlines and accounts of the latest breakthroughs are usually at best misleading or often just plain wrong, and why the research itself may often prove to be useless in the long term. Here's to the latest breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimers' disease!

All research workers should read this book, but unfortunately few will do so as it would make for uncomfortable reading, but could greatly enhance the quality of their research and publications. I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to be able to critically evaluate medical and other scientific research. Readers who have no scientific background should be able to follow the different examples of flawed research that are included. Those who are generally cynical about science may here find appropriate ways to separate good science from bad.
2 people found this helpful
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x0/AB\x0
4.0 out of 5 stars Science is utterly broken.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2021
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On the Royal Society Science Book Prize short list for 2021.
Well written and interesting book.
It covers the replication crisis, publication bias, p-hacking, hype etc.
And deliberate fraud.
There are extensive interesting examples and case studies used to demonstrate the principles discussed.
Ultimately many aspects of the scientific method appear dysfunctional driven by profit and prestige.
A totally broken system.
A highly recommended read.
Kindle version.
The book comprises 261 pages in 3 parts with Epilogue, Afterword and Appendix on How to read a Scientific Paper.
Notes section beginning at p.265.
Index section beginning at p. 349.
Total 358 pages.
Readers would also enjoy Ben Goldacre's Bad Science and Bad Pharma.
2 people found this helpful
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Peter Cuthbertson
5.0 out of 5 stars A great explanation of how and why science falls short
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2020
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I love reading scientific research - usually in the form of popular books (like Ritchie's) and media coverage. But I want to do so knowing the pitfalls. After reading this book, I feel much better equipped both to take certain claims with a pinch of salt - and particularly to know which claims are best taken only with a pinch of salt.

This is a broad book, looking at a range of issues - statistical trickery, media hype, academic incentives. But it manages to do so in a way that ties them all together into a clear thesis - and is not in the many hundreds of pages that lesser writers would have required to make the same points. It felt like an easy read, which is a superb skill when discussing complex areas of science. To give one example, I can see myself returning to his discussion of statistical significance and p-hacking time and again, because it is so lucid.

I feel much better informed about what scientists actually do, both as researchers and the amount of time spent hunting for funding.

This book is a solid read and I hope his recommendations are taken seriously.
11 people found this helpful
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ehen
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2023
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This book was quite an eye opener, exposing weaknesses in current scientific research and suggesting ways of dealing with these.
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A Stringer
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking book for those who believe in the need to preserve scientific integrity
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2022
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I was recommended this book as a budding researcher. The bias expressed in a number of the Amazon reviews of this book also piqued my interest (hello man-made climate change deniers who made stuff up about how the book discusses this issue - PS. there is no cartoon). However, if you put your prejudices aside, this book is essentially advocating for taking the politics out of science and makes a good case as to how this has happened, (particularly the replication crisis & p-hacking) & how these can be addressed. As to whether this book will change anything I remain sceptical. Because sadly we are not just dealing with what can at times feel like a proliferation of bad science (reference the ridiculous hype over ivermectin as a cure for Covid. News flash - it isn't) but a willingness by many (hello again man-made climate change deniers) to accept bad science in good faith because it confirms preexisting bias. Only time will tell.
One person found this helpful
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Sauron
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but avoids at least two inconvenient truths
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2020
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This book confirmed my opinion that the scientific literature is driven by authors who must publish to keep their funding and their jobs, and by publishers who must fill their journals never mind the quality. I am long retired but it must be increasingly difficult to find quality research hidden among so much rubbish. Despite the author's chapter on possible cures, there is no chance of that happening given vested interests. At the beginning of the chapter on Bias, the author quotes T H Huxley - "Science . . . commits suicide when it adopts a creed." Left leaning academics would not think that that might apply to their positions on climate research or research on genetics and intelligence.
18 people found this helpful
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XtremeDude09
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent exposure of problems in science
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 October 2021
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Well written description of all the main problems in current culture of research. My only issue is that it might leave the reader with the impression that scientific progress has stalled because of these. In fact, genuine new knowledge in many areas of science is accumulating at such a rapid rate that it is difficult for a scientist such as myself to keep up with!
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Aniko Kusztor
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read with full of fun facts
Reviewed in the United States on 24 September 2020
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If you’re interested in science on any level, I highly recommend reading this book. Witty, well-written and full of useful knowledge bits.
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Alf Reading
5.0 out of 5 stars Make Science Boring Again
Reviewed in Germany on 11 February 2021
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Das Buch behandelt die inzwischen als „Replication Crisis“ bekannte Erfahrung, dass die Ergebnisse von vielen in anerkannten Fachzeitschriften publizierten Studien in folgenden Experimenten nicht repliziert werden können. Die Auflistung von Beispielen, wie Studien durch direkten Betrug, durch Bias (persönliche Voreingenommenheit oder systematische Verzerrung), durch einfache Nachlässigkeit oder durch übertriebene sensationelle Schlussfolgerungen (Hype) verfälscht werden, ist amüsant und unterhaltsam, aber (im Bereich der Medizin) auch erschreckend zu lesen.

Der Autor analysiert als Grundursache das Anreizsystem im aktuellen Wissenschaftsbetrieb, in dem Wissenschaftler nach der Anzahl ihrer Veröffentlichungen in angesehenen Fachzeitschriften beurteilt werden. Die Kriterien der Veröffentlichung nach sogenannten Peer Reviews sind intransparent, aber anscheinend wird das Sensationspotenzial stark gewichtet. Um systematische Verzerrungen zu vermeiden, sollten aber auch „langweilige“ Studien veröffentlicht werden, die einen bekannten Effekt bestätigen oder zeigen, dass ein denkbarer Effekt nicht nachweisbar ist.

Als Therapie schlägt der Autor vor allem organisatorische Maßnahmen gegen die Sensationsgier im Publikationsprozess vor, deren mögliche Effektivität ich als wissenschaftlicher Laie nicht kompetent beurteilen kann. Ich halte das Buch aber auch für die nicht-wissenschaftliche Öffentlichkeit für sehr wichtig, um Aussagen, die mit wissenschaftlichen Studien begründet werden, mit einer gesunden Skepsis besser beurteilen zu können, vor allem wenn sie verkürzt als Sensation dargestellt werden oder mit persönlichen Werturteilen vermischt werden..
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Ferran Arnau
3.0 out of 5 stars Libro en mal estado
Reviewed in Spain on 14 January 2021
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El Libro llegó un poco sucio y golpeado
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it
Reviewed in France on 26 July 2020
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Very important book
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Philippa
5.0 out of 5 stars Huge recommend!
Reviewed in Australia on 13 December 2020
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I can't say enough about this book - what an excellent beginners' guide to the replication crisis and the perils in which Big Science finds itself through pursuing its own miguided priorities. I especially like the sections on p-hacking, and on how the problems could be solved by short-circuiting some of the dysfunctional processes currently in existence which sustain fraud and deceit, as well as ordinary publication bias. And I really love that Ritchie recommends grant distribution by lottery - I suggested this for ARC grants in Australia back in around 2014, to a horrified response. As someone who 'collects' frauds and fakes, this book was a rich source of future teaching materials. It would be a great baccalaureate textbook for any science-based course of studies.
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