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Presentation
AAASPDCancerQuackery.ppt
American Association for the Advancement of Science - Pacific Division (2018)
  • T. L. Brink, Crafton Hills College
  • Margaret . Yau
Abstract
This research used Goolge Trends to track the popularity of cancer treatments regarded as lacking scientific credibility. Internet searches from 2004-2017 were analyzed (i.e., 167 months) for the relative number of searches for cancer and nineteen different "alternative" treatments. The maximum number of searches received in a given month was set as an index of 100 for that variable, and all other months received an index score based upon the proportionate number of searches compared to the maximum for that variable. Searches for cancer had a minimum of 63 and a median of 75. There was a minor annual cyclical pattern (peaking around October). In contrast, the treatments tended to have a spike and then a great falling off, indicated by much lower medians and minimums (usually close to 0), and higher standard deviations. Google Correlate (at the state aggregate level) was used to see what other kinds of topical searches were being made in these geographical areas. Correlations above +.8 were found between these treatments and topics such as off grid homes, crystals, skinny bunny tea, Alex Jones, and Zacharia Sitchin, suggesting links to other quackery, pseudoscience, and conspiracy theory. These data give insights into the narrative of those who seek alternative cancer treatments. If we are to encourage people to engage in preventive behaviors, seek regular screening, and pursue timely and legitimate medical treatment, we must be able to counter that narrative.
Keywords
  • Cancer,
  • Conspiracy,
  • Big Data,
  • Analytics,
  • Google Trends,
  • Bayesian sequential analysis
Publication Date
Summer June 14, 2018
Location
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Citation Information
T. L. Brink and Margaret . Yau. "AAASPDCancerQuackery.ppt" American Association for the Advancement of Science - Pacific Division (2018)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tlbrink/28/
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY International License.