Research quality

[aphar]

"The Impact of Posing with Cats on Female Perceptions of Male Dateability" appears to be a run-of-the-mill peer-reviewed paper, that would advance one's academic career a little bit more. It makes a sophisticated claim:

Women viewed men as less masculine when holding the cat; higher in neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness; and less dateable.

If you look at the actual pictures of two guys holding the same cat, you will quickly notice that the cat is clearly uncomfortable and tense, the men are not the owner, don't know how to pet it &c.

Nevertheless, the paper was written, reviewed and published. "Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice".

See also a discussion.