We value what values us: The appeal of identity-affirming science
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We value what values us : The appeal of identity-affirming science. / Morton, Thomas A.; Alexander Haslam, S.; Postmes, Tom; Ryan, Michelle K.
In: Political Psychology, Vol. 27, No. 6, 01.12.2006, p. 823-838.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - We value what values us
T2 - The appeal of identity-affirming science
AU - Morton, Thomas A.
AU - Alexander Haslam, S.
AU - Postmes, Tom
AU - Ryan, Michelle K.
PY - 2006/12/1
Y1 - 2006/12/1
N2 - Members of the public (Study 1; n = 184) and university students (Study 2; n = 101) evaluated a piece of research and indicated their support for its continuation. The research findings were held constant, but the methods that revealed those findings were attributed to either neuroscience or social science, and the conclusions based on those findings were biased either in favor of men or in favor of women. Study 1 revealed that participants were more positive about research that affirmed their gender identity and that was based on neuroscience rather than social science. Study 2 found this pattern to be apparent in more specialist samples. Indeed, participants with some scientific training were more influenced by research that affirmed the reader's gender identity. Participants with less scientific training, in comparison, were more influenced by the type of science described when making judgments about the value of the research. Contrary to popular claims, this suggests that scientific knowledge alone is no protection against the effects of bias on research evaluation. Implications for the practice and popularization of science are discussed.
AB - Members of the public (Study 1; n = 184) and university students (Study 2; n = 101) evaluated a piece of research and indicated their support for its continuation. The research findings were held constant, but the methods that revealed those findings were attributed to either neuroscience or social science, and the conclusions based on those findings were biased either in favor of men or in favor of women. Study 1 revealed that participants were more positive about research that affirmed their gender identity and that was based on neuroscience rather than social science. Study 2 found this pattern to be apparent in more specialist samples. Indeed, participants with some scientific training were more influenced by research that affirmed the reader's gender identity. Participants with less scientific training, in comparison, were more influenced by the type of science described when making judgments about the value of the research. Contrary to popular claims, this suggests that scientific knowledge alone is no protection against the effects of bias on research evaluation. Implications for the practice and popularization of science are discussed.
KW - Bias
KW - Evaluations of science
KW - Gender
KW - Motivated reasoning
KW - Popularization
KW - Social identity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751302595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2006.00539.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-9221.2006.00539.x
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:33751302595
VL - 27
SP - 823
EP - 838
JO - Political Psychology
JF - Political Psychology
SN - 0162-895X
IS - 6
ER -
ID: 214453218