Industrial Distraction

Bibliographic Data

ID10708239
AuthorsCailin O’connor (0000-0002-8351-2575, University of California), David Peter Wallis Freeborn (0000-0002-2117-8145, Northeastern University)
Year2025
Volume92
Issue3
Pages666-687
Publication date2025-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/psa.2025.1
OpenAlexW4406472525
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited28

There are myriad techniques industry actors use to shape the public understanding of science. While a naive view might assume these techniques typically involve fraud or outright deception, the truth is more nuanced. This paper analyzes industrial distraction, a common technique where industry actors fund and share research that is accurate, often high-quality, but nonetheless misleading on important matters of fact. This involves reshaping causal understanding of phenomena with distracting information. Using case studies and causal models, we illustrate how this impacts belief and decision making even for rational learners, informing science policy and debates about misleading content

Cognitive psychology · Distraction · Aging and Gerontology Research · Computer Science · Employment and Welfare Studies · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Philosophy · Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access