Don’t Assume the Worst

Skepticism has an honored place in science. But when it becomes cynicism it threatens to do damage to science and, hence, to all of us. Jonathan Adler blogs on the Volokh Conspiracy about why private funding of research doesn’t have to mean a conflict of interest.

There is no question that some researchers may be influenced by their sources of funding. Research protocols may be altered to increase the likelihood that test results please private benefactors or generate government grants. But a given study or scientist’s source of funding does not inherently taint research results. Over time, the scientific process weeds out those results that result from sloppiness or greed. Those who attack private funding of scientific and medical research have sought to don the public interest mantle, but if they are successful, we will all be worse off.