Studies on common sense topics seem like a real waste of time and money. However, there is a value in having them formally studied and documented for two reasons:
1. It shuts people up - Have all of the faith and anecdotal evidence you wish, but there's nothing quite like a randomized, double-blind study to sink someone's little boat
2. What if they were right - Common sense is seldom either. There's a lot of crap in quantum mechanics that make no sense, but still work.
So, I guess the best way to maintain scientific rigour is to go above and beyond the call of duty sometimes.
Studies on common sense topics seem like a real waste of time and money. However, there is a value in having them formally studied and documented for two reasons:
1. It shuts people up - Have all of the faith and anecdotal evidence you wish, but there's nothing quite like a randomized, double-blind study to sink someone's little boat
2. What if they were right - Common sense is seldom either. There's a lot of crap in quantum mechanics that make no sense, but still work.
So, I guess the best way to maintain scientific rigour is to go above and beyond the call of duty sometimes.