How not to describe how not to do science

[firecat]

Elsenet, folks were sharing our opinions of an article describing a scientific study of rats, food, and activity:

http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/13869/20140405/diet-induced-obesity-makes-you-lazy-study.htm
Warning, before following the link, you might want to turn off image loading in your browser. There's a super obnoxious photograph.
Also, it was reported that the page has pop-up ads. I use an ad blocker so I didn't notice.

So here's what I understand from the article:

Fat rat fed on a diet high in sugar (*stops pressing lever*): "I get a lot of sweets in my diet, so I don't want any more of the sweets I get when I press this lever. Imma go check Facebook."

Scientist: "This rat isn't hungry. That means its brain isn't working right."

Lean rat fed on a diet low in sugar (*keeps pressing lever*): "I've been deprived of sugar for months now. More, more!"

Scientist: "This rat has a good work ethic and strong character."

Benita Matilda (article writer, and nominee for Science Writer Non-sequitur Champion of the Year): "Junk food makes humans hungrier."

Meanwhile:

Other Scientists: "Hey, there are some studies over here of actual humans! They suggest that humans on low-calorie diets experience cognitive impairments! Anyone want to read these studies?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/business/the-mental-strain-of-making-do-with-less.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/02/inbrief.aspx [second item]

Obesity Researchers (*sticking fingers in ears*): "LA LA LA LA LA"

Comments

[wild_irises]

I find Lynne Murray's concept of the faith sentence incredibly useful when I think about experiments like this.

(I know that firecat knows that Body Impolitic is a blog I write with Laurie Toby Edison, but I mention it here anyway for disclosure.)

[firecat]

So true!