4 ms·

This isn't simply a case of poor quality control. Sure, hoax articles have made it through some (largely pay-to-publish) journals in other fields from time to

This isn't simply a case of poor quality control. Sure, hoax articles have made it through some (largely pay-to-publish) journals in other fields from time to time. And yes those incidents should inspire reflection and correction, as well as a hit to the reputations of such journals. But this is much more. This is about a set of ideas that pass for expert scholarship despite having lost any tethering to to the real world. Just look at this reaction to the hoax: > Some of the pieces were indeed outlandish (and not all were accepted). But it appears that some were simply based in premises (e.g. social constructionism) or political principles (e.g trans equality) that the hoax authors find problematic but we do not. https://twitter.com/alisonphipps/status/1047421076509261824 https://twitter.com/alisonphipps/status/1047421076509261824 Note that word "problematic." I don't want to know whether social constructionism is considered "problematic", I want to know whether it is true. There is an actual real world out there that scholars are purporting to study. But when science and empiricism are considered oppressive, all we are left with is posturing and grandstanding over ideology.

lukev 8y ago
If your criteria for publication is what is epistemologically true you are going to find it difficult to publish in any domain except possibly pure mathematics or physics.
- haberman 8y ago
  Social Constructionism and Blank Slatism are theories that can be tested. There is plenty that can be published on these topics that is based in evidence rather than ideology.
  - PeterisP 8y ago
    However, if you fake (or, as in this case, completely make up) your evidence, then you'll be able to get false things published - the peer review process has no ability to verify if what you claim is true, it does not and will not re-test the theory, that might be done by other teams after your results are published but not before.
- tynpeddler 8y ago
  A publication is not required to be true, but it should make some sort of progress towards making a true statement.
harryh 8y ago
When she says that one of the accepted papers was based on a premise of trans equality does anyone know to which paper she is referring to?
- tptacek 8y ago
  That'll be Strategies for Dealing with Cisnormative Discursive Aggression in the Workplace: Disruption, Criticism, Self-Enforcement, and Collusion ("Thesis: That trans people are all oppressed and constrained by cisnormative language in the workplace even if they don’t think they are, that trans activists who are avoided at work are proof of transphobia and trans men who are skeptical of trans activism are afraid of transphobia and/or taking advantage of male privilege"). It was rejected everywhere it was submitted.
beautifulfreak 8y ago
And the ideological errors "leak" into broader culture, they warned in their confession. "...peer-reviewed journals are the absolute gold standard of knowledge production. And these concepts leak into culture... the problem of corrupt scholarship has already leaked heavily into other fields like education, social work, media, psychology, and sociology, among others—and it openly aims to continue spreading. This makes the problem a grave concern that’s rapidly undermining the legitimacy and reputations of universities, skewing politics, drowning out needed conversations, and pushing the culture war to ever more toxic and existential polarization. Further, it is affecting activism on behalf of women and racial and sexual minorities..." https://areomagazine.com/2018/10/02/academic-grievance-studies-and-the-corruption-of-scholarship/ https://areomagazine.com/2018/10/02/academic-grievance-studi...

lukev 8y ago

If your criteria for publication is what is epistemologically true you are going to find it difficult to publish in any domain except possibly pure mathematics or physics.

haberman 8y ago
Social Constructionism and Blank Slatism are theories that can be tested. There is plenty that can be published on these topics that is based in evidence rather than ideology.
- PeterisP 8y ago
  However, if you fake (or, as in this case, completely make up) your evidence, then you'll be able to get false things published - the peer review process has no ability to verify if what you claim is true, it does not and will not re-test the theory, that might be done by other teams after your results are published but not before.
tynpeddler 8y ago
A publication is not required to be true, but it should make some sort of progress towards making a true statement.

harryh 8y ago

When she says that one of the accepted papers was based on a premise of trans equality does anyone know to which paper she is referring to?

tptacek 8y ago
That'll be Strategies for Dealing with Cisnormative Discursive Aggression in the Workplace: Disruption, Criticism, Self-Enforcement, and Collusion ("Thesis: That trans people are all oppressed and constrained by cisnormative language in the workplace even if they don’t think they are, that trans activists who are avoided at work are proof of transphobia and trans men who are skeptical of trans activism are afraid of transphobia and/or taking advantage of male privilege"). It was rejected everywhere it was submitted.

beautifulfreak 8y ago

And the ideological errors "leak" into broader culture, they warned in their confession. "...peer-reviewed journals are the absolute gold standard of knowledge production. And these concepts leak into culture... the problem of corrupt scholarship has already leaked heavily into other fields like education, social work, media, psychology, and sociology, among others—and it openly aims to continue spreading. This makes the problem a grave concern that’s rapidly undermining the legitimacy and reputations of universities, skewing politics, drowning out needed conversations, and pushing the culture war to ever more toxic and existential polarization. Further, it is affecting activism on behalf of women and racial and sexual minorities..." https://areomagazine.com/2018/10/02/academic-grievance-studies-and-the-corruption-of-scholarship/ https://areomagazine.com/2018/10/02/academic-grievance-studi...