Title |
Academic urban legends
|
---|---|
Published in |
Social Studies of Science, June 2014
|
DOI | 10.1177/0306312714535679 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Ole Bjørn Rekdal |
Abstract |
Many of the messages presented in respectable scientific publications are, in fact, based on various forms of rumors. Some of these rumors appear so frequently, and in such complex, colorful, and entertaining ways that we can think of them as academic urban legends. The explanation for this phenomenon is usually that authors have lazily, sloppily, or fraudulently employed sources, and peer reviewers and editors have not discovered these weaknesses in the manuscripts during evaluation. To illustrate this phenomenon, I draw upon a remarkable case in which a decimal point error appears to have misled millions into believing that spinach is a good nutritional source of iron. Through this example, I demonstrate how an academic urban legend can be conceived and born, and can continue to grow and reproduce within academia and beyond. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 543 | 21% |
United Kingdom | 231 | 9% |
Canada | 75 | 3% |
Australia | 54 | 2% |
Germany | 50 | 2% |
Netherlands | 44 | 2% |
India | 33 | 1% |
Korea, Republic of | 28 | 1% |
Sweden | 25 | <1% |
Other | 316 | 12% |
Unknown | 1143 | 45% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1839 | 72% |
Scientists | 541 | 21% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 107 | 4% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 52 | 2% |
Unknown | 3 | <1% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 10 | 2% |
Sweden | 3 | <1% |
Netherlands | 2 | <1% |
Germany | 2 | <1% |
Brazil | 2 | <1% |
New Zealand | 2 | <1% |
France | 2 | <1% |
Canada | 2 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 2 | <1% |
Other | 10 | 2% |
Unknown | 391 | 91% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 100 | 23% |
Researcher | 68 | 16% |
Student > Master | 47 | 11% |
Other | 29 | 7% |
Student > Bachelor | 25 | 6% |
Other | 98 | 23% |
Unknown | 61 | 14% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Social Sciences | 97 | 23% |
Psychology | 42 | 10% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 38 | 9% |
Computer Science | 31 | 7% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 17 | 4% |
Other | 134 | 31% |
Unknown | 69 | 16% |