William M. Briggs, Statistician » Peer Review Not Perfect: Shocking Finding

Once a fad starts, new fad-papers cite the old ones, papers appear at an accelerating rate, and an enormous web of “research” is quickly built. Seen from afar, the web looks solid. But peer closer and you can see how easily the web can be torn to shreds. Today’s fad is “The Evils That Will Befall Us Once Global Warming Hits.” An example of how ridiculous this fad has gotten is this paper, which purports to show how suicides will increase in Italy Once Global Warming Hits.

It is not clear, as it probably never is when in the midst of one, when this fad will peter out. In any case, there is more than auction frenzy and faddishness that explains why peer review is not perfect.