Philosophy of Science: must get the truth out.

When searching for scientific consensus, I find the best sources to be the sluggish entry level textbooks and good encyclopedias rather than the cutting-edge and often controversial journals like Nature .

These are quotes from The World of Biology, fourth edition, 1990, from Chapter Two, "the Method of Science" pp 37, 38. ==============

under subtitle: Scientists Must Guard The Truth
...If the deception is not uncovered, it may become part of the generally accepted knowledge used by peer reviewers to determine funding or worthiness for publication. Excellent work may be denied a hearing due to prior general acceptance of inferior work. [...] Important policies may be wrongly decided on the basis of bad data furnished by prestigious but dishonest researchers.
under subtitle: Science Has Ethical Dimensions
We have seen that scientific investigation depends on commitment to such practical ideals as truthfulness and the obligation to communicate results. Since these are really part of the scientific method, they are the intrinsic ethics of science. However, there are also extrinsic ethics ....

It is my opinion that since economics is a social science, it has more responsibility to rebuke false social assumptions as spewed by the popular media. This is in part because the public makes important policy.
" Important policies may be wrongly decided ..."

...or is economics all just a matter of opinion? If so, it has no truth, and this page may be dis-regarded.