Re: Double talk and double standards

First let me say that your questions are completely on target, and the answers to these are what we should be focusing on.

I would like to slightly re-word your question before I answer it though. Let me explain. Science dictates that we look for a convergence of evidence from multiple sources. Reality is that many factors come into play when conducting research, and no one study is perfect and without its limitations. This is one of the reasons that researchers use a statistical tool called "meta-analysis," in which they aggregate a number of different studies to look for overall trends in the data across studies.

My answer would be that the totality of the evidence available, over a number of years, by numerous different researchers (both opponents, proponents, and neutrals), using a number of different methodologies, shows no reliable or meaningful benefit to BLS in EMDR. This new study is simply more in favor of that conclusion. It is not valid to show it in one study, even though nobody else can replicate the results. This happened in the recent past in physics, where a couple researchers claimed they achieved cold fusion; but none of their colleagues could replicate this and the claim was found to be fraudulent. A recent meta-analysis by Davison and Parker looking at all the studies on BLS came to the same conclusion (refer to previous posts for a discussion of this).

The EMDR response has been that 1) the research is flawed, and 2) even if it's true, it doesn't matter because EMDR works, and is unique.

Again, cutting through the confusing rhetoric, let me state why I'm not impressed with these arguments by going back to the asprin analogy.

1) I don't think that taking the food coloring out of asprin and showing that it isn't more effective than the white kind is flawed; and 2) You can't simply say that your brand of asprin is better than the others unless you have good and reliable data to back this up. Makers of asprin try to do this to, but shouldn't be believed either. When given the chance to buy the fancy named asprin that costs more and the store's version, go for the cheaper one. However, keep in mind that many of your fellow shoppers will swear that Bayer asprin works much much better simply because they believe it!

Replies:

Re: Double talk and double standards, by Ricky Greenwald, 10/22/02 Re: Double talk and double standards, by JT Stratten, 10/23/02 Re: Double talk and double standards, by Ricky Greenwald, 10/23/02 Re: Double talk and double standards, by JT Stratten, 10/23/02 Re: Double talk and double standards, by Ricky Greenwald, 10/24/02

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