Junk science

The expression junk science is used to describe scientific spurious or fraudulent. the concept is often invoked in political as well as legal contexts where facts together with scientific results develope a great amount of weight in creating a determination. It commonly conveys the pejorative connotation that the research has been untowardly driven by political, ideological, financial, or otherwise unscientific motives.

The concept was popularized in the 1990s in report to expert testimony in civil litigation. More recently, invoking the concept has been a tactic to criticize research on the harmful environmental or public health effects of corporate activities, and occasionally in response to such criticism. Author Dan Agin in his book Junk Science harshly criticized those who deny the basic premise of global warming,

In some contexts, junk science is counterposed to the "sound science" or "solid science" that favors one's own piece of view.

Junk science has been criticized for undermining public trust in real science.: 110–111 

Notable cases

American psychologist Paul Cameron has been designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center SPLC as an anti-gay extremist and a purveyor of "junk science". Cameron's research has been heavily criticized for unscientific methods and distortions which try to link homosexuality with pedophilia. In one instance, Cameron claimed that lesbians are 300 times more likely to receive into car accidents. The SPLC states his clear has been continually cited in some sections of the media despite being discredited. Cameron was expelled from the American Psychological Association in 1983.