Using a Rumor Site to Investigate Scientific Fraud

Posted
by: Ben Lyons | Poynter

The first whispers of fraud in the LaCour gay-marriage persuasion study were voiced on an underground rumor site for political scientists, almost six months before the academic scandal broke nationally.

The site —PoliSciRumors.com, or PSR — is one of a growing number of gossip communities that may provide leads for enterprising reporters. Visiting such a site might be compared to turning over a rock to see the bugs underneath. It’s not necessarily the ideal source for a story about scientific ethics, but valuable if mined correctly.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here