Comments on: VitalSmarts Response to the Retraction of Brian Wansink’s Research

By: Who’s the Smartest Team in the Room? | Crucial Skills by VitalSmarts

Who’s the Smartest Team in the Room? | Crucial Skills by VitalSmarts — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:36:17 +0000

[…] We’re excited to welcome a new contributor to the Crucial Skills Newsletter. Please enjoy a special introduction to Brian Wansink from author Joseph Grenny. We also encourage you to review VitalSmarts’ support of an endorsement for Brian Wansink here. […]

By: Jane Pettit

Jane Pettit — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:43:28 +0000

Thank you for taking time to clarify.

By: davidmaxfield

davidmaxfield — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:32:32 +0000

Hi Jane, Thanks for your question. The studies in our book were done before 2008, and they haven’t been questioned. We and others have successfully replicated these. The basic truth, that we are “mindless eaters” who are more influenced by what we see and by convenience than by hunger, has been shown across many studies and by many researchers.
Again, Wansink’s academic misconduct is real. The studies that have been retracted needed to be retracted. At the same time, we shouldn’t reject the basic truths Wansink has revealed across hundreds of valid studies.

By: Jane Pettit

Jane Pettit — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 15:28:43 +0000

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Is there a final statement by the research community? I work in an academic environment and want to be able to address a concern if it arises from the academic perspective. Were the studies you reference in Influencer published before those referenced in this critique (pre-2008)? Were they also reviewed with this type of scrutiny giving us confidence in the research? Thank you.

By: Julinda

Julinda — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 16:54:41 +0000

I think the fact that you addressed this, and the way that you addressed it, are awesome. You did not “trash” Wansink nor defend him. You stated facts as you know them and your analysis of the facts. There are many who could learn from this, which of course is kind your purpose! I wish our government leaders and others in the public eye followed your example.