The Credibility Crisis in Science: A Review of Plümper and Neumayer's New Book

In a recent publication titled "The Credibility Crisis in Science," authors Thomas Plümper and Eric Neumayer delve into the increasing skepticism surrounding scientific integrity. They highlight the concept of 'tweaking,' where researchers present misleading findings, as being more perilous than direct fraud. The book references notable instances of data manipulation, including questionable Alzheimer’s research by Sylvain Lesné, disputed studies by Harvard's Francesca Gino, and the fabricated data of Diederick Stapel. While advocating for stricter peer review, the authors critique John Ioannidis's assertion about research validity and suggest that the text overlooks broader societal challenges and cultural dimensions, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.