Citations

"This footnoting format [the use of citations] evokes the appearance of scientific discourse: invoking the legitimacy and authority of science to give credence to the pictorial representation of the drug’s effects. As a technique, this method of citation seeks to transfer the authority of ‘hard science’ to the advertisement itself. Previous studies found this stylized referencing of articles was "included in order to give a respectable scientific appearance to the advertisement rather than for their scientific usefulness". Stimson’s study of references in British medical journals found: (a) articles were frequently unavailable, (b) studies cited tended not to have adequate controls where clinical trials were involved, (c) studies cited were sometimes sponsored by the manufacturer, (d) selective quotations in the ads altered the original meanings and intent of cited texts."
- Goldman and Montagne (1986)

Goldman R, Montagne M. Marketing "Mind mechanics": Decoding antidepressant drug advertisements. Soc Sci Med 1986;22(10):1047-58