We ’ll tell you how , with a little help from Edward Wike . In 1973 , Wike put out a small newspaper call , “ Water beds and intimate expiation . ” con about sex activity , beds , ocean - sickness lozenge , and how to create a awfully - plan subject area .
It ’s no accident that Wike ’s propose study was dire . The study , an example of Wike ’s new - coin law of science , was meant to be terrible . Wike designed it as a humourous way to illustrate the problems that others had in their own study . He gives the biz away in the opening paragraph of his paper , when he dismiss the idea that scientists search for accuracy and writes , “ The true scientist is motivated by the seeking for fame , immortality , and money . ( FIM ) ” In a search for FIM , he introduces Wike ’s Law of Low , Odd Primes ( WLLOP ) . WLLOP assert that if you keep the figure of group you are studying in low , curious prime numbers , you are almost always go to get an unbalanced result .
To instance the principle , Wike outlined an joke study on sexual gratification in water bed . He picked the well down in the mouth uneven prime there is , three , and split the experiment into three groups . One group contained couples that would take a placebo and have sex on a regular bed . The next chemical group of couples would take a placebo and have sexual practice on a water bed . The third would have sexual practice on a water supply layer after taking a real sea - sickness anovulatory drug . Astute readers will have noticed that , almost no matter what the result , the study differentiate us nothing . Another mathematical group has to be added , one that accept a sea - malady pill and has sexual practice on a regular bed , to put the consequence in a comprehensible setting .
Clearly , Wike had read a few studies in which the low primes had not been turned even , and was feel a little defeated with them . His thwarting was understandably share , since he was published . He does cover his roll in the hay a little , though . In the close of his composition , he encourages readers to apply WLLOP wisely , saying , “ Always apply WLLOP to the research of others ; never put on it to your own research and for sure never to mine . ”
Forget skill . If I could patent the estimate of always applying scrutiny to others but never to oneself , I ’d make more money than any scientists could even stargaze of .
Top Image : José Manuel Suárez
ViaAmmons Scientific(pdf )
PsychologyScience
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