Institutional

Expert Shopping

What it is

Searching for credentialed experts who will support a predetermined conclusion, then presenting them as independent authorities.

How it works

In any field, you can find someone with credentials who will support almost any position. Expert shopping involves identifying these outliers and presenting their views as mainstream expert opinion. The audience sees credentials and assumes mainstream consensus, not realizing the "expert" represents a fringe position within their own field.

Real-world examples

  • •Tobacco companies finding the handful of scientists willing to question the smoking-cancer link and showcasing them in media.
  • •Climate denial campaigns featuring the small percentage of climate scientists who dissent from consensus.
  • •Legal cases where both sides hire expert witnesses who conveniently support the hiring party's position.

Ethical guidelines

  • ●Expert testimony should represent the range of professional opinion, not just the convenient outlier.
  • ●Funding sources for expert opinions should always be disclosed.
  • ●Audiences deserve to know where an expert falls within the spectrum of professional consensus.

How to defend against it

  • ►Check whether the expert's view represents the consensus of their field or a minority position.
  • ►Look for who funded the research or testimony.
  • ►Seek meta-analyses and consensus statements rather than individual expert opinions.

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