What are the ethics of mining statistics from other research?

[Anjanette]

I recently had to completely rewrite a paper due to the fact that the author misused the statistics he quoted. Shouldn't this have been noticed by the peer review before publishing? It was very disappointing for me because the peer review process is so tough.

[Mark E. Hall]

Yeah, the original peer review should have caught it, but as I know all too well that doesn't always happen. Part of it is, we are human and make mistakes and miss things. Then there is the nasty facet of peer review that all too often the paper is sent to one's buddies, or one's sworn enemies...

Best, Mark Hall

[Alan Kirkland]

Yes, it should have got caught. As to the ethics of statistic-mining from other research, it depends on what you want to use them for, and how diligently you cite them.

[Anjanette]

Would the position of the person in question have any affect on whether or not the peer review would call them on what they did? I realize that some mistakes can been missed, but the icing on the cake, unfortunately, was that:
1. The original peer review missed the data mining.
2. The person who wrote the paper used a snippet of a complete data set as support for his/her theory, which usually means that in no way can the same results be accomplished when testing either hypothesis
3. It took the journal 18 months before they published the rebuttal from the original researchers, and only after the journal had contacted the data miner and informed this person of the content of the rebuttal. When all was said and done, the original researchers received two columns, and the person who did not use the complete information had two pages, and even mined more data from another paper.
It is very disheartening because as scientists, we are supposed to put the science before the ego. Granted, as humans, we are flawed. I just believe that to truly call oneself "civilized" you follow the rules and don't take short cuts.

[Alan Kirkland]

Most people might call that rather idealistic. I would call it right on the money.

It seems that fewer and fewer individuals are getting into archaeology, particularly CRM, to feed an insatiable passion for 'the need to know'. Unfortunately a lot are viewing it as just another job in the service sector, and bringing that attitude from the cubicle jungle into what was once a scholarly profession rather than a client-servicing bordello.

Ego is always part and parcel of the academic game, but by and large most scholars have the principles and character not to let "getting ahead" get in front of doing it right. The Treadmill of Mediocrity tempts everyone, because that's the path to the 'success'. Just like voting for change, each one of us has to do our part to make positive changes to things in the system that are not working quite right. By making sure of your data, and your referencing, and your sources, then you do your part, and that's all each of us can do.

The mere fact that it bothers you is a good thing. You can make the system work right by doing your part to ensure that you don't make the same mistakes as the one's that caused a snag in your work. We have a responsibility to the whole world to do a good job, and you are on the right path to doing just that.

[Anjanette]

The future of archaeology is looking bleak. Some of the grads have it in their mind that everything is out there and and i beleive that education at the elementary level would get more children involved and passionate about archaeology. My ideal situation would be for everyone who is trained for different enviroment or different office or something. The journals need to do the work they are supposed to. The seeds are aged, and then the ones that make the best go.
I sincerely wish ego would go away. It hasn't, but it was a good idea that went horribly wrong. I thivk that everyone should have had the same idea as me. Becaude if they are young enough, they dont kill. Studying for the GRE with a friend, I learned there were large amounts from all colors in the contex to taste.

[Alan Kirkland]

Don't give up the ship just yet, my friend. Educating the young in a fresh and exciting way is the right start to putting things back as they should be.

Back to the main thing, mining statistics is not necessarily a crime. It's how they're put to use that can be heinous. We have to remember that statistical data is just that; data. The conclusions that we draw from them in support, or refutation, of whatever hypothesis is put forth is what's important. For example, in a piece of my current research it is necessary to look at frequencies of flexed versus non-flexed burial positions vis a vis the general mortuary tradition in procedure for any particular site. That doesn't make the statistics bad, good, or indifferent, just data. It's how I state them in the context of my analysis and conclusions that matters. One credits the work with who did it, that's the name of the game, but the work YOU do is (or should be) seen as a direct & applied continuation of that work.

Hope that adds some substance to this thread.

[Anjanette]

I think my biggest objection was using the data to support the person's ideas and applying the data that to a subject that had nothing to do with the original data. I am very high on the scale about personal ethics. Just a funny little quirk I have. My friends have me proofread papers because I make sure they haven't used info without proper accreditation of the data.

Flexed vs unflexed, huh? Take a look at Earthly Remains. Its a book I read during my mummy class. It explains a lot, or contact Catherine Gaither at Metropolitan State College of Denver. She is in the Anthro dept and is one savy lady about bones and burials. She recently co authored a paper in South American Archaeology. She has worked on many a flexed or unflexed.

I am trying to get over the data misuse, I know it shouldn't bother me this much. Right now I have to concentrate on this summer. I am going to Yellowstone Natl Park to do a field school with The University of Montana Missoula.

Reconstructed Intermountain pottery vessel from Yellowstone Lake.
Very exciting stuff...get nice and close to that wonderful obsidian source there....Thanks Alan!

[Alan Kirkland]

You're a treasure. Nice pot. I like pots, better than busted rocks any day. Burials, now, those are the best.

This is one from the site, flexed, with a copper breastplate. A fun one to draw and photograph, & an absolute beast to excavate and extract. Enjoy.

I will get in touch with your friend. Thank you.

[Anjanette]

Was the person also bound with any kind of specific tie? Leather or plant fiber rope maybe? I don't see anything in your drawing that differs from some of the bundles I have seen from Peru. El Brujo and Santa Rita B specifically and some others that were in a book titled Earthly Remains. Also, the Mummy Congress by Heather Pringle. Hope that helps. Left Cathy's contact info somewhere for you on the site. My kid has been really sick so I have no way of knowing if I am coming or going since lack of sleep is the issue. Good Luck with your flexed!!!!