On 12/01/2013 15:26, tim..... wrote:

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 13:31:19 on Sat, 12
Jan 2013, tim..... remarked:
I don't see that he can conclude that it's got anything to do with
the journey "looking" shorted.

That's what academics do - they study things and come to conclusions.

Yes, but that doesn't make those conclusions right.

But it does mean they are likely to be embarrassed if it's wrong, and
spend more time on the research than the average tabloid journalist.

Surely you've been around long enough to know that all such reports only
come to the conclusion that the writer thinks that his audience wants.

News reports certainly, but less so with academic studies; or at least
it is a different sense of what the audience wants - "this needs more
research/a grant/rethinking/whatever, rather than "... is the only
language they understand".

I did get hold of a copy of the paper when it came out. Based on my
knowledge of the relevant branch of mathematics, erm, it had some long
words and looked convincing. ISTR the study was supported by TfL.

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK