Washington: A path-breaking study into same-sex marriage that stunned political scientists last year has now been retracted, leaving the scientific community in shock. The landmark Columbia University study, appeared in the journal Science in December last year, had claimed that one brief conversation with a gay or lesbian rights activist can change someone’s mind about same-sex marriage.
“I am deeply embarrassed by this turn of events and apologize to the editors, reviewers and readers of Science,” posted lead researcher and professor of political science Donald Green in a statement on the website Retraction Watch. The survey data was provided by Green’s co-author and graduate student Michael J. LaCour from University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). According to The Guardian, Green said he has now come to the conclusion that follow-up surveys on which the results were predicated may have been fabricated by his co-author LaCour. When another research team tried to replicate the study’s findings, they could not. They then published their own independent research paper titled “Irregularities in LaCour (2014).”
LaCour responded to the allegations on his personal website and on Twitter: “I am gathering evidence and relevant information so I can provide a single comprehensive response. I will do so at my earliest opportunity”. When the study titled “When contact changes minds: An experiment on transmission of support for gay equality” was published, the results were splashed across the media globally. Researchers then believed the methods used by the canvassers could be used to sway public opinion on other contentious issues. According to Green, the retraction is going to have a negative effect on his career. “It is an unfortunate but likely fact, when the last chapter of my life is written, this is going to be mentioned in it. Even though it’s an unexpected tragedy,” he said.
