Difference between revisions of "FND-Cargo Cult"

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Not all activities lead to valuable outcomes and "Cargo Cult Science" is an important metaphor for a class of conceptual problems that are the hallmark of "poor science".
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Not all activities lead to valuable outcomes and "Cargo Cult Science" is an important metaphor for a class of conceptual problems that are the hallmark of "poor science". The particular issue is that activites are causally disconnected from their claimed beneficial outcomes.
 
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After working through this unit you ...
 
After working through this unit you ...
 
* ... can identify "Cargo Cult"-type issues;
 
* ... can identify "Cargo Cult"-type issues;
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* ... have contributed an example to our collection;
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* ... have contributed an example to our collection, and/or;
 
* ... have contributed to the discussion in our collection;
 
* ... have contributed to the discussion in our collection;
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* ... are able to critically evaluate projects and activities regarding their potential value;
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* ... are able to critically evaluate projects and activities regarding whether they can contribute to thier claimed value;
 
* ... are able to propose improvements.
 
* ... are able to propose improvements.
  
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== Contents ==
 
== Contents ==
 
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The concept of {{WP|Cargo cult science}} was popularized by {{WP|Richard Feynman}} in the 1974 [http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/2/CargoCult.htm Caltech Commencement address]. In a nutshell, Feynman points out how scientific practices that lack "scientific integrity" are similar to the activities of a premodern cult in the South Sea islands that developed rituals for attracting goods-bearing supply airplanes by building mock airports.
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The essence of Cargo Cult is not merely poor science. The essence lies in a disconnect between form and contents: the form is compelling, but there can't be a rational expectation of a benefit from the activity because there is no causal connection between the activity and the claimed outcome. This is often, but not always due to {{WP|List of fallacies|'''logical fallacies'''}}.
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What makes the topic interesting for bioinformatics is that the deficiencies are often subtle, and hard for the non-expert to spot. To guard against Cargo Cult takes integrity, and practice. A structured approach may be helpful that first clearly identifies the hoped-for outcome, then defines the proposed activities, then asks in specific detail how the outcome would be caused by the activity. '''Causation''' is key here -  many examples of Cargo Cult behaviour derive from mistakenly arguing from correlation, where causation has not been demonstrated.
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{{Task|1=
 
{{Task|1=
 
*Read a brief introduction to ideas about {{ABC-PDF|FND-Cargo_Cult|"Cargo Cult Bioinformatics"}}.
 
*Read a brief introduction to ideas about {{ABC-PDF|FND-Cargo_Cult|"Cargo Cult Bioinformatics"}}.
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*Visit the {{SW|Cargo_Cult_Science}} page and add an example of your own that you have encountered during your studies or elsewhere.
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*Visit the {{SW|Cargo_Cult_Science}} page (and its associated {{SW|Not_(quite)_Cargo_Cult_Science}} page) on the Student Wiki and add an example of your own that you have encountered during your studies or elsewhere<ref>Make sure your example has not already been posted by someone else - it would be Cargo Cult to post it again.</ref>.
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*Also, add to the discusssion of any example. Comments that question the original assessment as ''Cargo Cult'' and lead to further focus and clarification are especially valuable.
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*Also, add to the discusssion of any of the existing examples. Comments that question whether the example actually should be called ''Cargo Cult'', and that lead to improved focus and clarification are especially valuable.
 
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<!-- <div class="reference-box">[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]</div> -->
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<!-- <div class="reference-box">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies '''Wikipedia: List of Logical Fallacies'''] a very comprehensive resource. One would wish that the presence of such a list itself would have a beneficial effect on science. </div> -->
  
 
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:2017-09-11
 
:2017-09-11
 
<b>Version:</b><br />
 
<b>Version:</b><br />
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:1.0
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:1.1
 
<b>Version history:</b><br />
 
<b>Version history:</b><br />
 +
*1.1 Add references to logical fallacies; review older submissions and move some into ''Not (quite) Cargo Cult'' page.
 
*1.0 Completed to first live version
 
*1.0 Completed to first live version
 
*0.1 Material collected from previous tutorial
 
*0.1 Material collected from previous tutorial

Revision as of 03:24, 12 January 2018

Cargo Cult Science


 

Keywords:  Cargo Cult science, Cargo Cult bioinformatics


 



 


 


Abstract

Not all activities lead to valuable outcomes and "Cargo Cult Science" is an important metaphor for a class of conceptual problems that are the hallmark of "poor science". The particular issue is that activites are causally disconnected from their claimed beneficial outcomes.


 


This unit ...

Prerequisites

You need the following preparation before beginning this unit. If you are not familiar with this material from courses you took previously, you need to prepare yourself from other information sources:

  • Inquiry: The scientific method; evidence based reasoning; how to design, execute and document an experiment; Conjecture, hypothesis and theory.


 


Objectives

This unit will ...

  • ... introduce the metaphor of a "Cargo Cult", as applied to bioinformatics and science in general;
  • ... illustrate with examples;
  • ... discuss principles to avoid the problem.


 


Outcomes

After working through this unit you ...

  • ... can identify "Cargo Cult"-type issues;
  • ... have contributed an example to our collection, and/or;
  • ... have contributed to the discussion in our collection;
  • ... are able to critically evaluate projects and activities regarding whether they can contribute to thier claimed value;
  • ... are able to propose improvements.


 


Deliverables

  • Time management: Before you begin, estimate how long it will take you to complete this unit. Then, record in your course journal: the number of hours you estimated, the number of hours you worked on the unit, and the amount of time that passed between start and completion of this unit.
  • Journal: Document your progress in your Course Journal. Some tasks may ask you to include specific items in your journal. Don't overlook these.
  • Insights: If you find something particularly noteworthy about this unit, make a note in your insights! page.


 


Contents

 

The concept of Cargo cult science was popularized by Richard Feynman in the 1974 Caltech Commencement address. In a nutshell, Feynman points out how scientific practices that lack "scientific integrity" are similar to the activities of a premodern cult in the South Sea islands that developed rituals for attracting goods-bearing supply airplanes by building mock airports.

The essence of Cargo Cult is not merely poor science. The essence lies in a disconnect between form and contents: the form is compelling, but there can't be a rational expectation of a benefit from the activity because there is no causal connection between the activity and the claimed outcome. This is often, but not always due to logical fallacies.

What makes the topic interesting for bioinformatics is that the deficiencies are often subtle, and hard for the non-expert to spot. To guard against Cargo Cult takes integrity, and practice. A structured approach may be helpful that first clearly identifies the hoped-for outcome, then defines the proposed activities, then asks in specific detail how the outcome would be caused by the activity. Causation is key here - many examples of Cargo Cult behaviour derive from mistakenly arguing from correlation, where causation has not been demonstrated.


 

Task:


 


Further reading, links and resources

 


Notes

  1. ↑ Make sure your example has not already been posted by someone else - it would be Cargo Cult to post it again.


 


Self-evaluation

 



 



 

If in doubt, ask! If anything about this learning unit is not clear to you, do not proceed blindly but ask for clarification. Post your question on the course mailing list: others are likely to have similar problems. Or send an email to your instructor.


 

About ...
 
Author:

Boris Steipe <boris.steipe@utoronto.ca>

Created:

2017-08-05

Modified:

2017-09-11

Version:

1.1

Version history:

  • 1.1 Add references to logical fallacies; review older submissions and move some into Not (quite) Cargo Cult page.
  • 1.0 Completed to first live version
  • 0.1 Material collected from previous tutorial

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