LibGuides: Critical Skepticism: Humanities

Bias in the Humanities

Research in the humanities is very different from the empirical research that is done in the sciences, and more prone to interpretation. In my research most of the influence i have seen has been ideological. Similiar to the think tanks that influence research into climate change, there are think tanks that influence research into the humanities.

There are groups that promote different views of history than generally accepted views. Sometimes these views find their ways into school textbooks.

Textbooks

Proposed Texas textbooks are inaccurate, biased and politicized, new report finds
When it comes to controversies about curriculum, textbook content and academic standards, Texas is the state that keeps on giving.

Back in 2010, we had an uproar over proposed changes to social studies standards by religious conservatives on the State Board of Education, which included a bid to calling the United States’ hideous slave trade history as the “Atlantic triangular trade.” There were other doozies, too, such as one proposal to remove Thomas Jefferson from the Enlightenment curriculum and replace him with John Calvin. Some were changed but the board’s approved standards were roundly criticized as distorted history.(From the article)