Homeopathic Research – Do You Believe in the Evidence?

Background: The hypothesis of this presentation is that the narratives on the evidence of homeopathy and the plausibility of research data are based to a relevant degree on belief systems of the respective actors.

Methods: On the basis of qualitative data from interviews on the understanding of childhood illnesses of homeopathic, anthroposophic, and conventional physicians, data from the ALLBUS survey and an additional literature review, hypotheses about basic belief systems of the actors were developed.

Results: Conflicting beliefs about mind-matter problem and nature versus technology may influence the interpretation of homeopathic research data, which may lead to “plausibility bias.”

Conclusion: Understanding the debate from a meta-perspective might expand our understanding and lead to new solutions in an otherwise deadlocked discourse.

Keywords: Homeopathy, belief systems, plausibility bias

Publication History

Article published online:
30 January 2024