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Later correct research can't build on previous wrong results. Later incorrect research most assuredly can build on previous wrong results essentially indefinite
by jerf 15d ago
Later correct research can't build on previous wrong results. Later incorrect research most assuredly can build on previous wrong results essentially indefinitely.
I'm not constructing a full differential equation model for an HN comment, but I'm pretty sure any realistic model of likelihood of detection of the falseness of past research and other similar parameters would produce a surprisingly sharp cutoff when looked at over time, above which the science does tend to self-correct and below which it disintegrates into endlessly recursive garbage drowning out any real science being produced. And I'm pretty sure a number of fields are below that threshold right now. That doesn't mean the problem is permanent... the parameters can be changed over time, too, but the problem does get worse and harder to fix if allowed to accrue too much.