Sanctified Snake Oil: The Effect of Junk Science on Public Policy

Government supported junk social science-or "sanctified snake oil" as Sarnoff terms it-exists in all policy arenas along the entire political spectrum, as policy advocates seek to justify the continuation of ineffective programs and to block alternative solutions. This form of junk science is particularly dangerous and wasteful in terms of tax dollars because professional confirmation, media "investigation" and government support lend it an unwarranted imprimatur of validity.

Sarnoff argues that it confuses the public and convinces them to support programs as ends in themselves, rather than determining whether or not such efforts actually achieve purported goals.