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Physicists avoid highly mathematical work despite being trained in advanced mathematics, new research suggests. The study, published in the New Journal of Physics, shows that physicists pay less attention to theories that are crammed with mathematical details. This suggests there are real and widespread barriers to communicating mathematical work, and that this is not because of poor training in mathematical skills, or because there is a social stigma about doing well in mathematics.
Dr Tim Fawcett and Dr Andrew Higginson, from the University of Exeter, found, using statistical analysis of the number of citations to 2000 articles in a leading physics journal, that articles are less likely to be referenced by other physicists if they have lots of mathematical equations on each page. [...] Dr Higginson said: "We have already showed that biologists are put off by equations but we were surprised by these findings, as physicists are generally skilled in mathematics.
"This is an important issue because it shows there could be a disconnection between mathematical theory and experimental work. This presents a potentially enormous barrier to all kinds of scientific progress."
http://phys.org/news/2016-11-physicists-mathematics.html
[Abstract]: Statistical Analysis of the Effect of Equations on Citations
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Sunday November 13 2016, @06:01PM
agreed. And for those of us with fluid maths reading skill, finding mistakes first is the usual way of reading - Does the logical derivation fit "the rules". Then "do the assumptions apply".
But it depends on the mathematics - derivations of number theory proofs take some concentration. Differential equations are fun ;-) Especially numerically, with BLAS...
But if you're going to hide bad answers, this is where things get lost on the non-technically trained public.
The general lack of numeracy , allows politicians to be hoodwinked by unknown statistics...
(Score: 3, Informative) by mcgrew on Sunday November 13 2016, @08:26PM
The general lack of numeracy , allows politicians to be hoodwinked by unknown statistics...
On the contrary, they rely on the general public's innumeracy. Example: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's charge that "the average state worker makes $60,000 per year" whenhe was running for office. Accurate, but meaningless. The meaningful number is the median, not the mean. The average is WAY above the median. Don't forget, mathematicians have to eat, too, and it's as easy for a politician to hire one.
Before I retired, my boss held a PhD in statistics, and I worked for Illinois. As tRUMP said, "I love uneducated voters." He would not have been elected without them, and neither would Rauner have.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org