R. Barker Bausell

{{Short description|American biostatistician studying complementary and alternative medicine}}

Rufus Barker Bausell, Jr. (born 1942){{cite web | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/101654460 | title=The design and conduct of meaningful experiments involving human participants : 25 scientific principles | work=NLM Catalog | accessdate=6 June 2015}} is an American biostatistician and retired professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore,{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/01/19/chicago-doctors-research-fails-federal-smell-test/ | title=Chicago doctor's research fails federal smell test | work=Chicago Tribune | date=19 January 2014 | access-date=6 June 2015 | author=Deardorff, Julie}} where, from approximately 1999 to 2004, he was the director of their center for studying complementary and alternative medicine.{{cite web | url=http://www.newsweek.com/miracle-cure-be-skeptical-94611 | title=Miracle Cure? Be Skeptical | work=Newsweek | date=1 December 2007 | accessdate=6 June 2015 | author=Adler, Jerry}} He was also the co-founder of the academic journal Evaluation & the Health Professions,{{cite web | url=https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/evaluation-the-health-professions/journal200787#editorial-board | title=Editorial Board | publisher=Sage | accessdate=5 August 2015}} and served as its editor-in-chief for more than three decades.{{cite web | url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/r-barker-bausell-phd | title=R. Barker Bausell | work=Psychology Today | accessdate=5 August 2015}}{{Cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/12/18/76469576.pdf |title=Rufus Bausell Jr., Fiance of Carol Vinograd |date=1977-12-18 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2017-09-10 |language=en}} An expert on research methods, he is known for criticizing alternative medicine,{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31190909 | title=$2.5 billion spent, no alternative cures found | work=NBC News | date=10 June 2009 | access-date=6 June 2015 | agency=Associated Press}} saying that alternative medical treatments are little to no more effective than placebos.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/16/AR2009031602140.html | title=Even 'Snake Oil' Can Help Patients Heal | newspaper=Washington Post | date=17 March 2009 | accessdate=24 August 2015 | author=Jain, Manoj}} He is the author of the book Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine,{{ISBN missing}} published in 2007 by Oxford University Press.{{cite web | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2008-02-03-your-health_N.htm | title=Alternative therapy: healing or hooey? | work=USA Today | date=3 February 2008 | accessdate=6 June 2015 | author=Painter, Kim}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/health/25book.html | title=The Lure of Treatments Science Has Dismissed | work=New York Times | date=25 December 2007 | accessdate=6 June 2015 | author=Zuger, Abigail}} He has also written a book about teaching in the United States and how he feels it could be improved, entitled Too Simple to Fail.{{ISBN missing}}{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2010/12/12/too-simple-to-fail-more-time-for-teaching/ | title=Too simple to fail: More time for teaching | work=Baltimore Sun | date=12 December 2010 | access-date=6 June 2015 | author=Rodricks, Dan}}