Dear all: I think I have been asked for "the one study" that proves an issue, one too many times. I just got asked by a mother who attended my breastfeeding clinic on behalf of her pediatrician for "THE study" that shows the risks of powdered formula over the telephone. First, I had to explain how getting the issue and volume numbers right over the telephone is exceedingly challenging and that there is not one study but many that speak about the risks of E-sak and about hypo and hypernatremia. So, I suggested that her pediatrician email me so I could send several references. Sometimes discussions on Lactnet hinge on whether or not there is THE study that will provide proof for one perspective of an issue that we are all viewing from different perspectives. I am not well-versed in the social sciences or philosophy. I was such a nerd, that I managed to get through my MHS taking only science or math courses with only four exceptions: one class in the history of medicine, one class in the history of women, one class in cultural anthropology, and required classes in language which happened to be French. As part of my doctoral program, the requirements forced me into expanding my world view and included a course on the philosophy of science and another on ethics. So, skating on thin ice here, I will point out my minimal understanding of how the "philosophy" of science does not support "just one study" as justification for anything. My understanding is that science is not about "proving" theories. It is about developing theories and disproving alternative hypotheses. Studies that use statistical probability theory, cannot NEVER predict with 100% accuracy what will happen in the future. ANY finding that shows statistical significance of one event preceding another or one randomized treatment having a bigger impact than another randomized treatment has a probability of being merely due to chance alone. It takes many studies to build both a plausible and a probable case that two events are causally related. Plausible means that the chemical, biological, physiologic, cultural, etc events make sense -- or in other words have "construct" validity. Probable refers to the statistical validity of the findings. In fact, in science one never really proves anything the way you can in pure math. You can merely disprove more and more alternative explanations until you have a plausible and probable case for your theory. There is no guarantee that in the future better theories may be developed that are more plausible and probable. So unlike "just one bottle" which can disrupt breastfeeding, "just one study" is not sufficient to warrant a paradigm shift in our practices without gathering further supportive evidence. It may very well be the pivotal "tipping event" that causes us to look further and find that that "one study" INITIATED the paradigm shift that was substantiated with further evidence. Best, Susan Burger *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome