Trust and Confidence in Scientific Research

There is empirical evidence indicating that trust in research is decreasing. If distrust is justified, this is a good thing; if not, it is a cause of concern. A basic question concerns the reasons for, and the causes of, distrust. Which are they, what do they mean, and how reliable are they?

The papers and presentations in this volume focus on external and internal factors contributing to distrust of science. The identification of such factors will help to understand better why trust is declining, whether this is justified and what should be done about it.

The book contains essays by an international group of researchers. Some contributions discuss more general questions as what can be learnt from the history of science, contemporary threats to faculties of letters, and controversies over criteria of quality. Other contributions discuss more specific issues such as publication for sale, ghostwriting and "Spin", and the role of media.