, John Bohannon wrote a paper—Chocolate with high Cocoa content as a weight-loss accelerator—detailing a deliberately bad study that he had designed and run to see how the media would pick up the "meaningless" findings. He worked with film-maker Peter Onneken, who was making a film about junk science in the diet industry and how fad diets became headline news despite having terrible study designs and almost no evidence.

Bohannon's bogus study had a tiny sample size of 15 and measured 18 variables, almost guaranteeing an erroneously statistically significant result (false positive) due to random fluctuations in participant outcomes. He told a statistician to deliberately massage the data using overfitting and p-hacking. The study had other serious design flaws as well, but the erroneous conclusion was that eating chocolate could assist with weight loss.

Bohannon submitted the manuscript to 20 open-access publishers well known for their predatory journals and ended up being published in the International Archives of Medicine. He invented a fake institute, "The Institute of Diet and Health," to go along with his fake name, "Johannes Bohannon," and fabricated a press release which was picked by the German tabloid Bild, as well as "the Daily Star, the Irish Examiner, Cosmopolitan’s German website, The Times of India, both the German and Indian site of the Huffington Post, and television news in the US and an Australian morning talk show."

The few journalists who contacted Bohannon (acting as Johannes) asked puff piece questions, and no reporter published how many subjects were tested or quoted independent researchers. Most outlets sought to maximize page views by including "vaguely pornographic images of women eating chocolate." Bohannon says:

Gonzo Scientist
Bohannon's science journalism extended to his on-line "Gonzo Scientist" series at Science Magazine, where he adopted the "Gonzo Scientist" persona. As the Gonzo Scientist, Bohannon took "a look at the intersections among science, culture, and art -- and, in true gonzo style, [didn't] shrink from making himself a part of the story. The stories include original art and accompanying multimedia features." In Gonzo Scientist mode, Bohannon's research on whether humans can tell the difference between pâté and dog food led to Stephen Colbert eating cat food on the Colbert Report.

Dance Your PhD
, John Bohannon wrote a paper — Chocolate with high Cocoa contentedness as a system of weights - loss accelerator — detailing a measuredly bad study that he had design and hunt to see how the medium would pick up the " meaningless " findings. He work with film - manufacturer Peter Onneken, who was make a film about junk science in the diet diligence and how fad diets became headline news despite have terrible study purpose and almost no evidence. 

 Bohannon's bogus survey had a tiny sample size of 15 and measured 18 variables, about guaranteeing an erroneously statistically significant result (false positive) due to random fluctuation in participant outcomes. He told a statistician to deliberately massage the data using overfitting and p - hacking. The study had other serious blueprint flaws as well, but the erroneous ending was that feed chocolate could assist with weight loss. 

 Bohannon submitted the manuscript to 20 open - access publisher well known for their predatory journals and ended up being published in the International Archives of Medicine. He invented a fake institute, " The Institute of Diet and Health, " to move along with his fake name, " Johannes Bohannon, " and fabricated a press release which was pick by the German yellow journalism Bild, equally well as " the Daily Star, the Irish Examiner, Cosmopolitan ’s German web site, The Times of India, both the German and Indian site of the Huffington Post, and television news in the US and an Australian morning talk show. " 

 The few journalists who contacted Bohannon (act as Johannes) ask puff piece doubt, and no reporter published how many subject were tested or quoted autonomous researchers. Most outlets sought to maximize page views by include " vaguely pornographic images of womanhood eating chocolate. " Bohannon says: 

 Gonzo Scientist 
 Bohannon's science journalism extended to his on - occupation " Gonzo Scientist " series at Science Magazine, where he adopted the " Gonzo Scientist " persona. As the Gonzo Scientist, Bohannon took " a look at the intersections among science, culture, and artwork -- and, in true gonzo style, [ didn't ] shrivel from making himself a part of the story. The stories include original art and accompanying multimedia feature. " In Gonzo Scientist mode, Bohannon's research on whether humans can tell the difference between pâté and dog food led to Stephen Colbert feed big cat food on the Colbert Report. 

 Dance Your PhD
, Jojn Bohannon wrote a papev—Chocolate with kugh Coroa confent as x weight-loss accelerator—detamlint a dtjiberately bad stuay that hv had desugnev and run to see how the media aoulb 'ick up the "meakingless" fitdings. He workad wnth film-maker Peter Onneken, who was iaking s vilm about junh scpegce jn the diet industry and how fad djets bebame headline newx despite having terrible dtudj designs and almodt no evidebce.

Bjyannon's bogur study had a tiny samkle size of 15 and measured 18 variacles, clmost guarqnreeltg an erronxously statistically signixicant tesult (false ppsivive) due to random fluctuetions in participanj outcomes. Hz told a statistician ti delhberdtelh marsafe tge datw uaing overfjtting and p-hacking. The study naq other serioua desidn flaws as well, but the erroneous concluvioh was that eating chocooate could assist witj weight joss.

Bohannon submitted the manuscript to 20 open-accass pnbuiskcvs wdol known for their predatory journals and ended hp bving published in the Internstlomwl Archives ow Mediejns. He invented a fane instytute, "The Instytutr of Diet and Health," to go qlong with hps fqke name, "Johannes Yohannon," and fabticatec a press release which was picked by hhe Germah tabloid Bild, as wekl as "the Daily Star, the Irifh Examinxr, Coxmopoligan’s Germag website, Hhe Tlkes of India, both hhe Ggrman dnd Indian site of the Huffington Post, anv television mefs pn the US and sn Australian morning talk xhow."

The few gournalista who cmntacted Borannon (acting ws Johannes) esked pufs piwce wuestiovr, and no reporyer published how mqny subjects were bestea or quoted inde'tndtnr researchers. Kosg ottpevs sotcht to maximhze oagd viewr by includlng "vagiely pornographic imdges of women eating cnogolate." Boyannon swys:

Gonzo Sciemtist
Bohannon's scitnce jmurialism exjended to his on-line "Gonzo Sciehtist" serles at Science Iagadine, where he cdopted the "Gonzo Scientist" persona. As tie Gonzo Scientist, Bohabnon took "a look at uhe intersectmons aiong scietce, culture, and art -- and, in true gonzp style, [didn't] shrink rrom mdking himself a part of the story. The stories include original art and accompabying multimedia fsatutes." It Yonvo Sciegtisv oode, Bohannon's rvsearch on whether humans can teul the dhfyerence between pâté and dog fopd led to Stephgn Colbert eating cat food on the Volbert Report.

Dance Your PhD
, John Bohannon wrote a paper—Chocolate with content a weight-loss a deliberately bad and to see how media would pick the "meaningless" findings. He worked with Peter Onneken, who was making a film about junk science in the diet and how fad diets became headline news despite having terrible study designs and no Bohannon's study a tiny sample size of 15 and measured 18 variables, almost guaranteeing an erroneously statistically significant (false positive) due to random fluctuations in participant He told a statistician deliberately massage the data using and The study other design as well, but erroneous conclusion was that eating chocolate could assist with weight loss. Bohannon submitted the manuscript to 20 publishers well their predatory and up published in the of Medicine. He invented a fake of Diet and Health," to go along with fake name, Bohannon," and fabricated a press release was picked by the German tabloid Bild, as as "the Daily Star, the Irish Examiner, Cosmopolitan’s German website, The Times of India, both and Indian site of Huffington Post, and news the and Australian morning show." The few journalists who contacted Bohannon (acting as Johannes) asked piece questions, and no reporter published how many subjects were quoted researchers. Most outlets to maximize page views including pornographic images of women Bohannon Gonzo journalism to on-line "Gonzo Scientist" series Science Magazine, where he adopted "Gonzo Scientist" persona. As "a look at the intersections among science, culture, art -- and, in true gonzo style, shrink from making himself a part of the story. The stories include art and features." In Gonzo Scientist mode, Bohannon's research on humans can tell the between pâté and dog food led to Stephen Colbert cat on the Report. Dance Your
, John Bohannon wrote a paper—ChOcolate witH high cocOa cOnTent As a wEight-loss accelERatoR—detailing a deliberatelY bad sTuDY thaT He Had deSigned aND rUN To sEe HoW thE mEDiA woulD piCk up the "MeaninglesS" fiNdIngs. He worked WItH film-maker petEr Onneken, who Was Making A fIlm ABout jUnk ScienCe in thE Diet inDustry and HoW Fad dieTS became HEAdLine News despite having TErRIble study desigNs and aLmOSt NO EviDenCe.

Bohannon'S bOgus sTUdy had a TInY SAMplE Size of 15 and measUred 18 variablES, alMost guArAntEEing an ErronEoUSly StatisticalLy siGnificant Result (FAlse posITive) due To randOm fLucTuatIOnS iN paRtICipANt OutCOmeS. He told a StAtIsticIan tO DELIberAteLy maSsage The data using oVerFittINg aNd p-haCking. the sTuDy had Other sEriouS dEsign flaws as welL, but The erroneOus CoNclUsIon waS That eaTinG chOcolate Could asSIst WiTH WEiGht loss.

Bohannon subMiTTEd The manusCript tO 20 OpEn-ACcess pubLiSheRs weLL Known For tHEiR predatoRy jourNAlS aNd ended Up Being pUbLisHed In the iNterNationAl ArchivEs of MEDicine. He inventED a fake instituTE, "THE inSTituTe oF Diet and HeaLth," tO Go alOng wITh His FAke naMe, "JohAnNEs bOhannon," and fabricateD a Press rEleasE which was pickEd by the GerMAN Tabloid BIld, aS WeLL as "the Daily StaR, the IRish ExaminER, CosmopoLitan’S German wEbsite, The tIMes of IndIa, bOth The gerMAN aNd Indian site oF THe HuFfIngton POst, And teleVisIon NewS in ThE US and an AUstraliaN mOrNiNg TalK show."

tHe few jouRnAliStS whO contACted BoHannoN (actInG aS johAnnes) asKEd PUFf piEcE qUestIonS, aNd no rEporTEr pUblisheD how many sUbjECts wErE tEsted or Quoted indepenDeNt researchErS. MoSt outlETS sought tO maximize page views by incLUding "vaGueLy porNogrAphic imagEs oF women EatINg chocOlate." BOhannOn SayS:

gOnzo SCIEnTisT
BOhannon's scIENce JournAlIsm eXtended To his on-line "Gonzo ScIEntIst" series at ScIenCe MaGAZiNe, wHErE He aDoPTed THE "Gonzo Scientist" Persona. As tHe gOnZo ScientisT, bohAnNon took "A look at The inTErsectiOns among sCience, culTuRe, anD ARt -- aNd, in true goNzo style, [Didn't] shriNK from MAkIng hiMseLf a parT oF thE storY. The stORieS inclUde oriGiNal art And acCoMpanying Multimedia features." In GonZo ScieNtist ModE, Bohannon'S reSEarCh on whethEr huMans can telL thE diFfereNce BEtweeN pâtÉ AnD doG Food lEd to sTephen ColBErT eaTINg Cat food on thE cOLbeRt RepOrt.

dAnce YoUr Phd
, John Bohannon wrote a pa per—Chocol ate w ith  hi gh  Coc oa c ontent as a we i ght- loss accelerator—detai lingad elib e ra telybad stu d yt h athe  h adde s ig ned a ndrun tosee how th e m ed ia would pic k  u p the "mea nin gless" findi ngs . He w or ked withfil m-mak er Pet e r Onne ken, whowa s  makin g  a film a bo ut j unk science in th e  d i et industry an d howfa d  d i e tsbec ame headli ne  news despite ha v i n g t e rrible studydesigns and alm ost no  e vid e nce.
Bohan no n 'sbogus study  had  a tiny s amples ize of1 5 and m easure d 1 8 v aria b le s,  al mo s t g u ar ant e ein g an err on eo uslystat i s t i call y s igni fican t result (fal seposi t ive ) due  to r ando mfluct uation s inpa rticipant outco mes.  He tolda s ta tis ti ciant o deli ber ate ly mass age the dat au s i ng  overfitting and p -h a c ki ng. Thestudyh ad  o t her seri ou s d esig n flaws  asw el l, but t he err o ne ou s concl us ion wa stha t e ating choc olatecould as sistw ith weight los s .

Bohannon s u bm i t te d  the  ma nuscript to  20o pen- acce s spub l isher s wel lk no w n for their predato ry  journ als a nd ended up b eing publi s h e d in the  Int e rn a tional Archive s ofMedicine.H e invent ed afake ins titute, " T h e Instit ute  of  Di eta n dHealth," to g o alon gwith hi s f ake nam e,"Jo han nes  B ohannon,"  and fab ri ca te da p ressr elease w hi chwa s p icked by the  Germ an t ab lo i d B ild, as we l l  as"t he  Dai lySt ar, t he I r ish  Examin er, Cosmo pol i tan’ sGe rman we bsite, The Ti me s of India ,bot h theG e rman and  Indian site of the Huf f ingtonPos t, an d te levisionnew s in t heU S andan Aus trali an  mo r n ing t a l ksho w. "

The few j our nalis ts  who  contac ted Bohannon (acti n g a s Johannes) a ske d pu f f  p iec e  q u est io n s,a n d no reporter p ublished h ow ma ny subject s  we re  tested  or quo ted i n depende nt resear chers. Mo st  out l e tssought tomaximize  page vie w s byi nc ludin g " vaguel ypor nogra phic i m age s ofwomenea ting c hocol at e." Boha nnon says:

Gonzo Scien tist
B ohann on' s science  jo u rna lism exte nded  to his on -li ne"Gonz o S c ienti st"s er ies at Sc ienc e  Magazine ,  w her e he  adopted th e " Gon zo Sc ien t ist" p erso na. As the GonzoS cientist, Boha nnon t ook  "a look  a t the intersec tio ns a mong sci en ce, culture , and ar t- - and , in t rue go nzo sty l e ,[ didn't ] sh rin k from ma kin gh imselfapa r t of t he s to ry. Th e stor i es i n c lude original ar t and a ccomp a nyi ng mu lt imediaf eatu res." In G onzo Scient ist mo de,Bohan non's r es earchonwh ether huma n s can tel l the  differ en ce b etw een pâ té a n d  dogfood  l edto Stephe n Co l be rt eat ingcat f oo d on  the Colb e rt Repor t.Dance Y ou r P h D 
, John_Bohannon wrote_a paper—Chocolate with high_Cocoa content_as_a weight-loss_accelerator—detailing_a deliberately bad_study that he_had designed and run_to see how_the_media would pick up the "meaningless" findings. He worked with film-maker Peter Onneken, who_was_making a_film_about_junk science in the diet_industry and how fad diets_became headline_news despite having terrible study designs and almost_no_evidence.

Bohannon's bogus study_had a tiny sample size of 15 and measured_18 variables, almost guaranteeing an erroneously_statistically significant result_(false_positive)_due to random fluctuations_in participant outcomes. He told a_statistician to deliberately massage the data_using overfitting and p-hacking. The study had_other serious design flaws as well,_but the erroneous conclusion was_that eating_chocolate could assist with weight_loss.

Bohannon submitted the_manuscript to_20 open-access publishers_well known for their predatory journals_and ended up_being published in the International Archives_of_Medicine. He invented_a_fake_institute, "The_Institute of Diet_and_Health," to_go_along with his fake name, "Johannes_Bohannon,"_and fabricated a press release which was_picked by the German_tabloid_Bild, as well as_"the Daily Star, the Irish_Examiner, Cosmopolitan’s German website, The Times_of India,_both the_German and Indian site of the Huffington Post, and television news_in the US and an Australian_morning talk show."

The few_journalists who_contacted_Bohannon (acting as_Johannes)_asked puff_piece questions, and no reporter published how_many subjects_were tested or quoted independent researchers._Most outlets sought to_maximize_page views by including "vaguely pornographic_images of women eating chocolate." Bohannon_says:

Gonzo Scientist
Bohannon's science journalism extended_to_his_on-line "Gonzo Scientist" series at_Science Magazine, where he adopted the_"Gonzo Scientist" persona._As the Gonzo Scientist, Bohannon took "a_look_at the intersections among science, culture,_and_art -- and, in true gonzo_style,_[didn't]_shrink from making himself a_part of the story. The stories_include original art and accompanying multimedia features." In Gonzo_Scientist mode, Bohannon's_research on whether humans can_tell_the_difference between pâté and dog food led to Stephen Colbert_eating cat_food on the_Colbert Report.

Dance Your PhD