The main tool we use to decide if science is 'true' was actually just a lazy shortcut invented to deal with all the new scientists after WWII.
arXiv · March 17, 2026 · 2603.14757
The Takeaway
We usually think the 'p-value' is the gold standard of science because it's the most accurate math, but this analysis reveals it rose to dominance because it was a simple, mechanical procedure. It allowed a massive wave of new researchers to produce standardized results without needing the deep, expert judgment that other scientific methods required.
From the abstract
It has long been a puzzle why, despite sustained reform efforts, many applied scientific fields remain dominated by Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST), a framework that dichotomizes study results and privileges "statistically significant" findings. This paper examines that puzzle by situating the development and rise of NHST within its historical and institutional context. Taking Actor-Network Theory as a point of entry, the analysis identifies the conditions under which particular infe