Meaning of Woozle effect | Babel Free

Definitions

The phenomenon whereby frequent citation of earlier publications leads to a mistaken public belief in something for which there is no evidence, giving rise to an urban myth.

Equivalents

Examples

“One general problem is what [Beverly] Houghton (1979) calls the "Woozle Effect" (based on a Winnie the Pooh story). The "Woozle Effect" begins when one investigator reports a finding, such as Gelles's (1974) report⟳ that 55 percent of his sample of families reported one instance of conjugal violence in their marriage. The investigator may provide⟳ qualifications to the findings. [...] In the "Woozle Effect," a second investigator will then cite the first study's data, but without the qualifications (such as done by Straus, 1974a). Others will then cite both reports and the qualified data gain⟳ the status of generalizable "truth."”

“Faulty science is seen in the "woozle effect," where questionable research⟳ findings become⟳ "established facts" despite being based on an unsatisfactory methodology. A cyclical dynamic is set⟳ in motion. If more blacks are reported as abusive, this is then reflected in incidence data (of reported cases), and later can be misinterpreted as a "characteristic" of child abuse. A stereotype results, and blacks are more likely to be diagnosed and reported as abuse cases.”

“Slavish worship⟳ of "political correctness" is the death of scientific progress⟳ and is the worst form⟳ of mind⟳ control⟳. It brings about stagnation and stifles creativity. It also contributes to the Woozle effect as suffered by Winnie the Pooh and his research⟳ assistant, Piglet. [...] Readers are encouraged to challenge⟳ and explore⟳, to resist⟳ the tendency to fall⟳ victim to the Woozle effect as they search⟳ for answers.”

“What is measured after the violence occurs may not have⟳ existed beforehand. The infamous woozle effect appeared for reports of attitudes to violence.”

CEFR level