Do you imagine that scientists all follow the scientific method? Think again. Sometimes scientists are unwilling to give up their failed ideas even though evidence shows that these ideas are somewhat inadequate.
The problem often arises because of technological choice. Science is not a cost free exercise and in order for an area of ignorance to be explored or new knowledge of a technology be developed, scientists sometimes stretch their allegiance to a theory or technology beyond what strict adherence to tested evidence and good scientific method allows. A good example occurs with the development of new energy technologies.
Some new technologies are so expensive and time consuming that once embarked upon there is little incentive to reverse direction. An example arises in the case of energy from fusion. Those that embarked on development of hot fusion technologies follow improvements in these technologies with an almost religious fervour, refusing to accept that cheaper alternatives may actually be available.
The problem arises when a group of scientists deliberately sets out to destroy the efforts of another group primarily because of the difference in directions and costs of the competing technologies. If you are like me, you wonder whether the competitive efforts of scientists working on cold fusion were sabotaged by those working on hot fusion. The jury is still out as to whether cold fusion has potential as a scalable technology for energy. What one observes, however, is that scientists do not always adhere to their mantra of the scientific method.
One might ask why scientists are often very reluctant to change direction when the evidence suggests a better alternative. Perhaps, it is because they have spent much of their academic life accepting a limited view of their field and in becoming over specialized cannot see the forest for the trees. Putting blinders on is in the nature of a pilgrimage, and many scientists behave like religious pilgrims determined to fulfil a specific journey and quite willing to misdirect others away from alternative journeys. In such cases, science unfortunately adopts some of the less attractive attributes of a religion.