CCN Colloquium: "Advancing Health Science Despite the Psychological Quirkiness of Researchers"

In an effort to produce valid knowledge based on data, health care science must battle the interfering effects of certain aspects of psychology. These challenging aspects of human psychology were identified early in the history of the scientific method by Francis Bacon in his Novum Organum, published in 1620. In this talk, we will discuss 3 of these aspects of human psychology that can interfere with producing high quality science, along with some strategies to combat these tendencies. Parts of this talk are based on an this article: Weinfurt KP. Vanquishing false idols, then and now. Science. 2020;367(6484):1312-1312. doi:10.1126/science.aba5802 Kevin P. Weinfurt, PhD, is Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. He holds secondary appointment as a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Professor of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, and a Faculty Associate of the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine. Dr. Weinfurt also co-directs the Center for Health Measurement at Duke and is co-director of the Clinical Research Training Program (Masters degree offered through the School of Medicine). Dr. Weinfurt worked as a Special Governmental Employee for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for four years, helping to create the Patient-Focused Drug Development guidance series. He is also a member of the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Human Research Protections.