3 ms·
> Social sciences is a heavily politicised field which is more akin to journalism than anything else. You're being downvoted, but my understanding is that lots
by weberc2 8y ago
> Social sciences is a heavily politicised field which is more akin to journalism than anything else.
You're being downvoted, but my understanding is that lots of social science researchers openly refer to themselves and their discipline as activism. Am I mistaken? Is this observation controversial?
EDIT: Now that people are downvoting me, perhaps someone could take a moment to explain where I'm mistaken?
- Fomite 8y agoI haven't downvoted you, but "Science" and "Activism" are not mutually exclusive.
- weberc2 8y agoFair point, but isn’t it cause for skepticism? It seems that science-minded folks are skeptical of the research done by various politically-oriented think-tanks; isn’t a politically oriented field or department similar?
- Fomite 8y agoThe question is what direction that's in. Activism that is, in essence, urging the adoption of ones findings, if obtained through valid experiments, isn't really biased. Politically-oriented think-tanks are looking to build research that supports a particular political outcome. That's a pretty strong contrast to say "We have found that X is harmful, and will advocate for people having reduced exposure to X." Consider, for example, the number of infectious disease epidemiologists, vaccine developers and doctors who have essentially been forced to engage in "activism" thanks to anti-vaxx movements.
- weberc2 8y agoI absolutely agree, but it seems valid to question the “direction” of these fields, especially when there appears to be a growing body of research that suggests a strong political bias.
- tenaciousDaniel 8y agoNeither are "Justice" and "Revenge". But there's a good reason we treat them differently.