10/29/01
Report
The author ponders the dilemma that arises when the researcher knows that his/her findings may be put to political use. The author claims that he is hesitant to release a fact that he encounters in his research since he can almost be positive that it will plant a seed in the minds of some and grow into a full-fledged media campaign. He supports his fear with an example about his analysis of FBI statistics for arrests for violence and drug abuse, and the sensationalized press release that he imagines could come from it. This (tongue-in-cheek) paper demonstrates how researchers must always be vigilant and prepared to attack the misuse of their statistics and findings.