If the purpose of scientific inquiry is to illuminate the truth, what purpose exactly did the article by Harriet MacMillan and colleagues1 serve? If one followed the popular media in the days following its release, one would think that a causal relationship between spanking and psychiatric disorders had been established. Only the very astute commentator picked up on the fact that the study's results could have been accounted for by other explanations (for instance, character traits that make it more likely a child will receive a spanking may also be associated with increased risk of mental illness). From the rapidity with which the popular media latched onto this study I assume that it was promoted with press conferences and releases, but I am left wondering if the pitfalls of drawing conclusions about cause and effect from the study were even mentioned in such promotions. A whole lot of heat was generated but very little light.
Reference
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