n. The tendency for early findings in a new area of research to alternate between opposite conclusions.
2012
The Proteus phenomenon which certainly applies here definitely provides irrefutable proof that AGW is more social than science.
2011
Proteus is a sea god in Greek Mythology. He could change his shape at will. The Proteus phenomenon refers to early extreme contradictory estimates in published research.
2004 (earliest)
This progress provides fascinating opportunities for the rapid production and dissemination of scienti?c information, but may result in an increasing number of studies reporting very contradictory conclusions in short sequence. We suggest that this rapid, early succession of extreme findings may be called the Proteus phenomenon after the mythologic god who rapidly metamorphosed himself to very different figures.