LibGuides: Critical Skepticism: Social Sciences

Bias in the Social Sciences

Is social science politically biased?
from Scientific American, a discussion of the issue and a recommendation.

Private prisons: Research, data and controvercies.
"With over 1.5 million people behind bars, the United States has the highest incarceration rate of any nation after the Seychelles. A rising number are held in prisons run by private companies. Supporters say these private prisons save money. Yet a growing body of academic research suggests that while privately run facilities may be cheaper, they are worse for inmates’ rights and raise questions about business ethics." From the article

Opponents of Same Sex Marriage
Ideological organizations wishing to promote their views fund research in the social sciences as well.
In this case, two foundations opposed to same-sex marriage funded a flawed study designed to demonstrate that children raised by same sex parents would fare worst than children raised by thier biological parents. The so called Family Structures study has been decried as seriously flawed by many sociologists.
Despite the controversy the study has been cited at least 258 times.
Regnerus, M. (2012). How different are the adult children of parents who have same-sex relationships? Findings from the New Family Structures Study. Social science research, 41(4), 752-770.
A “reality check” for the Regnerus study on gay parenting [UPDATED]
"Three years ago, against the strong consensus of social scientists and professional child-welfare groups, University of Texas sociologist Mark Regnerus concluded that children of gay parents fare worse than children raised by married opposite-sex parents. In the face of intense criticism and a scorching assessment from a federal judge (“not worthy of serious consideration”), Regnerus doubled down on his conclusions and filed an amicus brief against gay marriage in federal court." From the article.
What's Wrong with the New NIH Study on Transgender Kids
The Witherspoon Institute (Which funded the Regnerus study) decries the funding of studies into transgender children.