This is how science works…have no fear

A report from scientists trying to replicate lots of studies in psychology has shown a high rate of failure to replicate. This, unfortunately, has been used by people already skeptical of science, or of psychology, as confirming evidence that they were right: that science is all made up mumbo jumbo. Headlines like “Study delivers bleak verdict on validity of psychology experiment results” and opening sentences of articles that read “Don’t trust everything you read in the psychology literature. In fact, two thirds of it should probably be distrusted,” in news outlets that should know better, were all over. This response to the study, and the news of the study, is worth reading.