Citations are the best way to let readers go back through the chain of references that were source material for statements in your work. While I generally have a lot of respect for journalists, I find the practice of making statements without citing the reference both frustrating and undermining. It is frustrating, because when I want to check a statement made in an article I have to go do all the damn legwork that the reporter had to do in the first place, but with far fewer resources than a reporter has. I believe it to be undermining, because the casual reader is left to believe the reporter’s interpretation of everything stated in the article.
Take as an example the news today of a Duke University study reporting that Splenda, the artificial sweetener based on the chemical sucralose, can kill beneficial intestinal bacteria, block drug function, and cause weight gain in laboratory rats. A NY Times article [1] reports the findings of the study as follows:
The latest salvo comes from Duke University researchers, who have published a study that says Splenda — the grainy white crystals in the little yellow packets — contributes to obesity, destroys “good” intestinal bacteria and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed.
As a scientist, my first instinct is to go and read the study. I even have access, through my affiliation to a university, to most of the journals in medicine. However, because the Times doesn’t cite its sources, I have to completely start from scratch in finding the study.
My first stop is the website of The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, where the article says the study was published before appearing in the print version. I found the article [2] online, and then proceeded to read the research. Woe unto the average non-scientist who tries to do this – they have to subscribe to the journal to see the paper, and that costs mega-moolah.
Here, as I was writing this, I got distracted actually reading the paper. It’s a fascinating little paper. In fact, it’s so fascinating I am going to end this post and start a new one.
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/23splenda.html?ref=fitnessandnutrition
