by A.S. Kaswell


The public usually believes anything -- no matter how foolish -- that a scientist tells them, according to recent research performed by Les Marsden of the J. T. Spaulding Institute.

Marsden conducted a series of tests with members of the general population. The subjects believed they were answering an opinion survey about "recent scientific discoveries." Actually, they were being responding to blatantly nonsensical "facts" that Marsden had concocted.

Among Marsden's findings:

* 78% of the subjects believed that "Venus orbits around Jupiter" after they were told that "there is scientific proof." (Before being told about the "scientific proof," only 42% of subjects believed this.)

* 84% of the subjects believed that "Reading books causes cancer" after they were told that "there is scientific proof." (Before being told about the "scientific proof," only 55% of subjects believed this.)

* 63% of the subjects believed that "Apes are descended from trees" after they were told that "there is scientific proof." (Before being told about the "scientific proof," only 39% of subjects believed this.


 http://www.improbable.com/airchives/classical/jstuff/v36/public-believe-36-5.html

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