Can I get a reply please and thank you.

John Bailar raises many points regarding the dishonesty and deception that is used in the scientific community in order to gain status or funding. Being involved in the evidence-based side of fitness and nutrition over the past few years, I can attest that the issues brought up by Bailar are valid and need to be discussed and recognized. Too often researchers use the term "significant" to communicate statistical significance regarding the results of their beloved studies (Carver, 1993). As we know, statistical significance and practical significance are not the same, and fortunately, journals have more and more required authors to include effect sizes in order to more clearly communicate the study's practical application but even this practice is not without its blemishes (Chu et al, 2020). As disciples of Jesus, we are called to live differently than the rest of the world (Romans 12:1-2, New International Version). Therefore, we must practice and communicate science with integrity and always adhere to honesty and integrity because the bible is very clear that dishonesty will eventually be found out (Proverbs 10:9, New International Version). Additionally, we are called to live as examples of Christ so that others may be saved and become disciple-makers themselves (1 Theselonians 4, New International Version).

As believers, we should not let others push us to live in disobedience and practice deception regarding research. If we are letting pressure from Journals or publishers push us to sin, then we need to reevaluate our belief in God's control and sovereignty over our lives. If we let the threat of a negative impact on our career push us to violate the Word of God it speaks that our career is more important than life in Christ. If we are seeking "a first-class inference can include income, position and power, professional status, and the respect of colleagues," then we are not focused on what really matters and our hearts are not set upon Jesus entirely (Bailar, 1986).

As I continue my career in exercise and nutrition, I need to constantly evaluate my heart and make sure that I am living 100% for Jesus. It can be stressful to get funding for studies and this can potentially lead to me compromising my beliefs in order to inflate potentially practically insignificant findings if I am not anchored in my walk with Christ. As with all things in life, keeping my eyes on Jesus through everything and trusting in His faithfulness is the most important thing I can do in my life, absolutely.

References

Carver, R. P. (1993). The case against statistical significance testing, revisited. The Journal of Experimental

Education, 61(4), 287-292.

Yoneoka, D., & Rieck, B. (2023). A note on cherry-picking in meta-analyses. Entropy, 25(4), 691. \

https://doi.org/10.3390/e25040691Links to an external site.

Holy Bible New International Version. (2005). . Zondervan.

Chu, B., Liu, M., Leas, E. C., Althouse, B. M., & Ayers, J. W. (2020). Effect size reporting among

prominent health journals: A case study of odds ratios. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, 26(4),

184-184. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111569Links to an external site.

BAILAR, J. C. (1986). Science, Statistics, and deception. Annals of Internal Medicine, 104(2), 259.

https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-104-2-259