A personal reflection on the scientific method and the importance of critical thinking
I used to think I was crazy for exploring alternative approaches to health and wellness. People would always say “science says” this or that, as if science was the final word on everything. But science is done by people, and people can be influenced by money, career incentives, and other factors. I got my master’s in statistics and learned that the system isn’t always as clean as we’d like to think.
The scientific method is a powerful tool for understanding the world, but it’s only as good as the people using it. When financial incentives align against truth-seeking, problems arise. Researchers might:
This doesn’t mean science is broken, but it means we need to be thoughtful about what we read and trust.
Some issues that affect research quality include:
Publication Bias: Studies with positive results get published more often than studies that find no effect. This gives us a skewed view of what’s really happening.
Financial Conflicts: Studies funded by companies often favor those companies’ products. This doesn’t always mean the research is wrong, but it’s something to consider.
Reproducibility: Many published studies can’t be reproduced by other researchers. This suggests we need better standards and more transparency.
None of this means we should distrust all scientific findings. The scientific method - observe, hypothesize, test, analyze - is still our best tool for understanding the world. But we should:
Science is a process, not a religion. It’s about asking good questions and testing ideas carefully. When someone says “science says” something, it’s okay to ask “what studies?” and “who paid for them?”
Good science is self-correcting over time, but individual studies can be wrong. The key is to stay curious, think critically, and remember that the people doing science are just people trying their best.
On Maintaining Healthy Skepticism
This essay emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between the scientific method as a valuable tool for inquiry and the human institutions that sometimes compromise its integrity. It encourages maintaining healthy skepticism toward all claims while preserving respect for empirical investigation.
The key is to approach scientific findings with both appreciation for their value and awareness of their limitations.