[Gondring]

“When used by scientists, [trick] can mean for example a mathematical approach brought to bear to solve a problem.”

Ever since this incident blew up, I am acutely aware of using that term. My fellow scientists or I use it daily, I think, in this way.

[raisetheroof]

“When used by scientists, [trick] can mean for example a mathematical approach brought to bear to solve a problem.”

Ever since this incident blew up, I am acutely aware of using that term. My fellow scientists or I use it daily, I think, in this way.

As someone else pointed out, "trick" wasn't the real scandal. It was "hide the decline".

[HiTech RedNeck]

This kind of usage of mathematics shouldn’t be called a trick any more than Einstein’s theory of relativity should be called a trick. If the usage is worthy of dignity, then it deserves a dignified term such as “method.”