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* Feelin’ alright?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 8:47 am

Comments

It’s going to be nearly 70 on December 2nd. Mother Nature is up to something.

Comment by Osborne Smith III Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 8:56 am
Seeing Chicago’s very own Material Issue tonight to cross that off my bucket list.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 9:04 am
A bit tired from taking the grandkids to see the Christmas lights in East Peoria (FOLEPI) last night. But up and moving. Got to take advantage of the decent weather to get things done. Need to try to sort out some minor issues on the new to me wagon before it’s stored for the winter. And this afternoon are a few hours of volunteer work.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 9:09 am
Seems I’ve got to have a change of scene

Every night I have the strangest dreams

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 9:12 am
@OW and @PotCalling

The other day there was a reference to a publication in Nature, which is managed by a publishing firm, NPJ Nature. NPJ Nature is a branch of the Springer Publishing Conglomerate, I believe.

I commented that I was not impressed when it was suggested that an article in Nature - Vaccine had undergone serious peer review. I believe Pot said something to the effect Nature is a reputable publication and their model of peer review was reputable.

I disagree with that assumption. I do not disagree that Nature is a wonderful magazine, although I am less familiar with the referenced offshoot, Nature-Vaccine. But my concern is about the quality of peer review, rather that the existence of “peer review.”

In the sciences (I am a social scientist), serious research is always published is serious, top tier journals, managed by professional organizations. In such cases, the peers doing the review are literally “the” experts on that specific topic, and they have invested careers conducting research in that specific area of research. For magazines like Nature or Scientific American (both managed by the conglomerate), the quality of peer review is much less rigorous. Often, what is presented is a summary of a current research agenda, or a synopsis of the current state of the literature, rather than actual empirical studies. What often happens is a person submits an article to a magazine, written for a general audience (rather than for the experts in the specific area). Publishers of the managing firm (rather than credentialed experts in the specific area of research) then solicit someone from the discipline (who may not actually be engaged in the specific area of research). This form of peer review usually involves asserting that the study is not quackery. It is in this context that I disagree with the assumption that npj Nature - Vaccine should be considered a serious peer reviewed journal.

In my field of research, there are many notable magazines that I would love to be published in (e.g., the Atlantic, Society, Social Policy, etc.). Indeed, I have been published in Social Policy three times. But the quality of peer review is significantly lower. While Noam Chomsky and Janice Fine and Si Miller and Frances Fox Pivens were on the editorial board when I published with them, the quality of peer review was fundamentally different, and much less rigorous.

In the context of a vaccine study, I would rather see peer review by experts doing the same research in a journal housed in a discipline, before concluding that the article underwent serious peer review.

Comment by H-W Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 9:29 am
Feeling alright?
Not feeling too good myself (oh, no)

Yes, feeling alright after a decent sleep.

Read this morning about good pot revenue that municipalities are using for various reasons like pensions, police and infrastructure. One would think cannabis revenue could also be used to lower property taxes, if a municipalities choose to do so.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 9:30 am
Been feeling extra salty lately. Probably some combination of stress, social distance, and disappointment during the holidays.

Comment by thechampaignlife Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 10:01 am
Usually recommend JSTOR as a source for research. Always caution students — Wikipedia is not an option.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 10:05 am
Been vaccinated and received our boosters a couple of weeks ago. Took a Covid test yesterday (negative) in preparation for a cruise we’re boarding tomorrow. This new variant is concerning to say the least. Wondering if we’re going to have to provide another negative test to reenter the US or possibly required to quarantine. Things could look very different a week or two from now.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 10:09 am
Feeling pretty good. Family healthy, work is good and I had Waffle House for dinner last night in Raleigh NC. Place was social distanced and food was good enough. Sure beat fast food drive thru

Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 11:36 am
H-W @9:29– I think you provided a very good explanation of the different level of peer review.

Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 11:56 am
Kinzinger made his own bed.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 11:57 am
Doing ok, thanks to a couple of factors I am now getting tested 3 times a week. So on the plus side, I have gotten really good at spitting into a tube.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 12:01 pm
Thanks - H-W -

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 2:41 pm
Major League Baseball has locked the players out. Trying its best to alienate the fan base it has left. I don’t think the Cubs are going anywhere next season; the Cardinals have a chance to make the playoffs but not to go very far; but sacrificing the season would be very disappointing for the White Sox, who are on the cusp.

Comment by up2now Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 3:03 pm
clear skies around Chicago. Venus and Jupiter magnificent now.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 5:46 pm
Got the post in place for a new roadside mail box. Rust and time caught up. An 80 pound bag of concrete seems much heavier than it did several years ago. Nice day to do it.

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Dec 2, 21 @ 7:18 pm

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