Impure Science: Fraud, Compromise and Political Influence in Scientific Research [Paperback]

Robert Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992 | ISBN-10: 0471529133 | ISBN-13: 978-0471529132 | Edition: 1

The author lifts the veil of secrecy from scientific research conducted in this country. He presents a shattering indictment of the scientific community from the halls of government to the research centers at major universities and corporations. Documents case after case of influence peddling, doctored research and outright fraud, and reveals how the twin forces of money and status compromise and corrupt the pursuit of scientific truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an alarming expose of the scientific community, City University of New York economics professor Bell charges that all aspects of our welfare, social and military infrastructure are threatened by extensive fraud, secrecy and fierce competition for research funds from government and industry. While whistle-blowers are penalized, he notes, especially for exposing such costly fiascos as the space shuttle and the Hubble telescope, control measures--e.g., replication, peer and journal reviewing--are prone to abuse, as are the grant-awarding procedures of the National Science Foundation, the Pentagon and Congress. Among the author's sometimes over-detailed examples--such as the recent case of scientific data faking which forced Nobel Prize winner David Baltimore to resign the presidency of Rockefeller Institute--Bell also condemns drug companies for gross violation of FDA regulations. The author's very tentative solutions call for excluding peers from investigations, providing increased protection for whistle-blowers and meting out stiffer penalties for offenders.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Economics professor Bell chooses a synecdochical approach to examine "big science" as it is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Pentagon, and the drug companies. For each type of abuse, such as conflict of interest or the falsification of data, he provides one or two well-documented and exhaustively researched examples, including several from prominent medical schools and several ghastly government boondoggles such as the decision to place an earthquake research institute in Buffalo, New York, rather than someplace with earthquakes. This is a startling compilation, in that it gathers together egregious examples of fraud and waste from every corner of scientific inquiry and makes much use of painstakingly acquired official documents and official accounts--a classic muckraking work with good endnotes. Essential for any library at an institution that receives research funding, although administrators won't like it one bit. Well written, too.
-Mark L. Shelton, Athens, Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471529133
• ISBN-13: 978-0471529132
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,325,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully things have changed, November 18, 2011

By 

Terri L. Griffith "Professor, Author, Speaker" (Silicon Valley) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Impure Science: Fraud, Compromise and Political Influence in Scientific Research (Paperback)

Some work I did as a graduate research assistant is highlighted in Impure Science (we were on the side of purity). These are clear stories of science gone wrong. I'd suggest this as background to more current assessments.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good overview of problems but weak on solutions, December 28, 2004

By 

James J. Lippard "skeptic" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Impure Science: Fraud, Compromise and Political Influence in Scientific Research (Paperback)

A discussion of fraud in science that focuses on a few cases in detail, rather than surveying many. The funding process in particular is illuminating, and "following the money" exposes corruption. In the examples given, proposals are denied because of unsubstantiated rumors generated by research competitors, large money awards are made to institutions clearly less suitable because of bias and political reasons, and the NSF can actively try to cover these up. The topic of doctoring data is examined, particularly the David Baltimore and Stephen Breuning cases; the most disturbing aspect being the obstructionism of the institutions involved, to the extent of taking action against the whistleblowers. Fraud in drug and military research are also discussed. While some suggestions for dealing with these problems are included, this part is weak. This book is recommended, especially to those who think that science is always a self-correcting process.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars more Bell necessary to make dark fields transparent!, August 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Luxembourg, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Impure Science: Fraud, Compromise and Political Influence in Scientific Research (Paperback)

Actually I am looking for the new Robert Bell which I heard was published recently. he gave an interview to a Dutch weekly where this new publication was announced. the topic is big projects and why they are doomed to fail (Eurotunnel, Eurofighter, B1) Anyone who knows more about this, pls contact me thanks, [e-mail]