Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I think the answer is simpler: people care about their careers and their family first. Think, "If the data says something that gets in the way of my career well I don't care about the data."

Had the same problem when I was an economics researcher -- publication bias for what stakeholders want to hear (often the government) is rampant because that's where funding for the economics department mostly comes from.



It's only rational. The company certainly doesn't care about that individual first, as evidenced by e.g. its decision to lay them off when it doesn't think the individual is serving them, so why should the individual put the company first?

This is also known as The Iron Law of Institutions.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: