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200607

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Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

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"Peer review is at the heart of the processes of not just medical journals but of all science," writes Richard Smith, former editor of the BMJ. In this excerpt from his book, The Trouble With Medical Journals, Smith argues "peer review is a flawed process full of easily identified defects with little evidence that it works." He proposes a few ways the system may be improved.

Read MorePeer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

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Tim Jancelewicz
June 9th, 2020 at 2:52 am
Commented on: Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

Hmmm, written by someone who has been rejected by peer review a few too many times??


Look, it’s important to question the system, sure, but high quality journals have experienced reviewers who do a pretty good job. And even NEJM or Lancet make mistakes and that’s where subsequent research or letters to the authors come in. The current system is imperfect but has done a pretty darn good job.


That said, I certainly wouldn’t bad mouth the peer review system in defense of your own unaccepted research. Good science is always going to have to be peer reviewed. Suck it up and keep submitting like all of us have.

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Tyler Hass
June 8th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Commented on: Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

A very interesting inside look into the peer review process and generous of Richard Smith to provide this extended excerpt from his book. Peer review has an undeserved reputation as a seal of quality. Tacking the words “peer reviewed" in front of a statement somehow lends it more weight. Smith’s insight into how this process is conducted removes some of the luster.


If one or two people spend a few hours going over a paper, is that enough to determine that reliable knowledge is being produced? It might be sufficient to weed out papers with glaring errors. But errors in science can be so subtle. Even honest scientists make mistakes. Richard Feynmann said the “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” If the author of a study, who has spent months working on it is fooled, I can’t imagine a time-pressed reviewer would not be fooled.


This underscores the importance of the article posted the other day on raw data. As Smith said, the peer review process is not the end of the road. Anyone who is interested ought to be able to look at the raw data, analyze it and draw their own conclusions. It’s not easy work and few can do it, but it can be incredible when done right. This article from Richard Feinmann is a great example.

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Fermin Romo
June 8th, 2020 at 3:12 am
Commented on: Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

first off, Grant, it appears you have serve in our military. I want to thank you for your service.

Also, thank you for educating me on the non-profit service Crossfit Inc provides and for running one that benefits our service members. Thats is very commendable and I'm sure was fun too b/c that's part of CF, blast the music and hit the WOD!

I myself have a career and at this point. B/c of my work schedule cannot own a box or coach. but thank you. maybe one day...for now, I love my job and it helps me provide for my family.

I workout out of my garage for now...also bc of convenience and schedule...and I'm blessed and thankful to have that opportunity


regarding not offering a solution. Nike is making an effort.....https://news.nike.com/news/nike-commitment-to-black-community

Nike is taking responsibility, not as a governmental like body, but as a company that understands the importance and ability to help

CF doesn't HAVE to do anything...respectfully, i would like them to b/c i believe its part of a revolution regarding health, as seen in the article above


COVID-19 has disproportionately hit black and brown communities.

All people, regardless of color, have the same biology, the only thing that is different is the color of our skin.

I'll leave it at that...we could go on and on...i think open dialog is what we need

but your right, action must be taken,


IMO, policies need to be put in place

i learned alot from this article...

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/affirmative-action

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Grant Shymske
June 7th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Commented on: 200-Pound Victory: Hard Work Wins

Sharing this, thank you for getting his story out there.

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Emily Jenkins
June 7th, 2020 at 12:51 pm
Commented on: 200-Pound Victory: Hard Work Wins

Love this story, thank you for sharing.

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Fermin Romo
June 7th, 2020 at 4:29 am
Commented on: Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

"...all crisis begin with a blurring of a paradigm and the subsequent loosening of the rules for normal research

in this respect, research during crisis very much resembles research during the pre-paradigm period..."

-The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn

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Reza Dehghanzadehsuraki
June 7th, 2020 at 4:13 am
Commented on: 200607

Macro view template analysis


Workout Structure:


First day was followed “AMRAP” template. This exercise was a couplet element WOD that are selected in a couplet modality. In fact, this was combined of a core exercise from gymnastic element with a moderate weightlifting movement. The training purposes were to improving the stamina and strength of the core and legs muscles, and also shoulder muscles as stabilizer muscles. Stamina, strength and flexibility played a major role in this WOD. Moreover, the lactic acid system was a dominant energy pathway in this program.

 

Second day was followed both “For Completion” and “For Time” template, respectively. Two modalities of gymnastic and metabolic conditioning were used in this high volume WOD. The purpose of the exercise was to improve the muscular endurance, flexibility, balance, coordination and accuracy in first movement and improves the cardiorespiratory endurance in second movement. Moreover, the aerobic system was a dominant

energy pathway for the SLIP section and the lactic acid was a dominant energy pathway for 800 m running.

 

Third day was followed “For Time” template. This exercise was a couplet modality that is combined of a heavy weightlifting movement and a high complex gymnastic movement. The main purpose of this exercise was to implement high skills in the form of the high-intensity exercise; high reps and heavy weight. Stamina and strength played a major role in this WOD. Moreover, the lactic acid system was a dominant energy pathway in this program.


Conclusion

As can be seen, 2 energy pathways (aerobic and lactic acid) were challenged in this cycle. Moreover, the stamina, strength, cardiorespiratory, flexibility, balance and coordination played a major role in this circle of programming. Also, power is latent in the nature of these programs.

As a final note, “AMRAP”, “For completion” and “For Time” templates were used for programming in this cycle.


Enjoy your rest day and recover your physical and mental dimensions

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Fermin Romo
June 7th, 2020 at 2:43 am
Commented on: Peer Review: A Flawed Process at the Heart of Science and Journals

a peer reviewed article, with 138 sources cited...sounds like what "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" by Thomas S. Kuhn would call a crisis....im still reading it now, but sound familar...Crossfit Inc. and Glassman are, rightly, taking on the corruption.

Crossfit and the Zone diet, have without doubt changed my life for the better

I would really like to see Crossfit make a commitment to under-served communities to help raise them up and educate them

Find educators in the community, and serve our under-served, invest in America future...educate everyone, don't leave anyone behind

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Grant Shymske
June 7th, 2020 at 2:45 pm

I am very much on board with your sentiment Fermin, and I myself am conflicted with the 'correct' way forward. I agree with you that the L-1 Kernel is desperately needed in underserved communities but really reflect on the content of your statement "Raise them up and educate them" followed by "Find educators in the community, and serve our under-served, invest in America's future." For the first statement I think you and I would both agree that making CrossFit.inc an governmental like entity with the power to force education onto the world would violate everything CrossFit and Glassman have ever stood for so I assume that is probably not how you meant it. In the later statement you essentially sum up the whole purpose of the L1, it is almost by definition a thing that finds local educators in the community who then go to serve that community. CrossFit Affiliates can be run as a nonprofit, the purpose of which is to perform a service for the community that would otherwise have to be taken up by local government, and CrossFit.inc supports and fosters coaches who want to do that. My wife and I ran a nonprofit affiliate on a military base for years with free memberships for service members and their families who could not hope to afford a $200 a month gym membership and CrossFit.inc did back flips to help and support us at every turn... all we had to do was ask and put in the work.... I may be mistaken but CrossFit's general approach has always been what Glassman calls the 'Least Rent's Model' where HQ purposely stays as small as possible while providing the opportunity for affiliates to control more of 'the pie'. Demanding that HQ go on the war path and force educate whole populations would be the antithesis of that founding principle. You are pointing out a real problem, no argument there but not proposing a solution. I think there is also an issue with setting your expectations up for failure by setting an emotional president of "Don't leave ANYONE behind." how would that even be possible? I am on your team Fermin, and I am thankful that CrossFit gives me the opportunity to cheaply and effectively start my own nonprofit affiliate and bring the elegant solution, so elegant that it may be optimal, to the world's most vexing problem to people who otherwise would not be able to afford it. (also the L1 Guide and CrossFit.com programming have been free to the public since 2001).

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