September 16, 2024
Science can investigate claims tied to exercise of power
What are claims?
What makes evidence “scientific”?
Exercise of power over others involves giving reasons to behave differently.
Four insights about science:
We argue that science can generate evidence regarding claims embedded in justifications/reasons given by power…
that are independent of power (without coercion, in principle)
Science is distinct as a form of thought in that:
(next class)
(today)
(For our purposes) a statement about what is true or right.
(For our purposes) the basis for a claim is the reason we should accept the truth or validity of that claim. It includes
the evidence that is used to “prove” the claim is true
and the warrant: assumptions required for the evidence to be valid “proof”
colloquially, we refer to both parts as “evidence”
What is the evidence?
What are the assumptions linking that evidence to the claim?
Claim? Evidence? Warrant/assumptions?
Go to menti.com and enter the code \(72 \ 07 \ 48 \ 3\)
(weak) severity requirement:
“one does not have evidence for a claim if nothing has been done to rule out the ways the claim may be false.”
“If data x agree with a claim C, but the method is … guaranteed to find such agreement, and had little or no capability of finding flaws with C even if they exist, they we have bad evidence, no test”
(Mayo 2018)
Link to Weber’s criteria:
If evidence fails to meet (weak) severity requirement, it is not scientific
Despite an infinite number of topics for research:
“The senseless murder of Laken Riley by Jose Ibarra, who had no business being in this country, was another wakeup call as Americans experience an illegal alien crime wave because of Joe Biden’s open border and local sanctuary city policies…” - Rep. Mike Collins (R), Georgia
Does evidence meet severity requirement?
Does evidence meet severity requirement?
Does evidence meet severity requirement?
Recent studies suggest that it’s very important that you come into this room right over here just now. Studies also suggest that it’s equally important you do not waste time asking questions … but just step this way through the door very quickly and by yourself, immediately.
The studies were conducted, and the evidence is conclusive: this room just over here is where you should go next, without anyone coming with you. Scientists did them, the studies. Which ones? Yes.
The studies are all finished now, and you don’t need to see them. The studies suggested that it’s not important you see the studies at all, but it is important that you hurry along, quickly now, because time is of the essence. The studies say now is the best time for you to be alone in that room.
Mayo (2018) also gives us:
(strong) Severity Requirement:
“We have evidence for a claim C just to the extent it survives a stringent scrutiny. If C passes a test that was highly capable of finding flaws or discrepancies from C, and yet none or few are found, then the passing result, x, is evidence for C”
“scientific evidence”:
“unscientific evidence”:
Strong Severity Requirement points to four attributes of scientific evidence:
Systematic use of evidence
Transparent procedures
Acknowledgement of uncertainty
Consider alternatives
Prejudice a group of people is the result of a lack of meaningful contact with members of that group.
Does inter-group contact reduce prejudice?
Are efforts to change the minds of opponents same-sex marriage through a short conversation more successful when those conversations are with gay (rather than heterosexual) canvassers?
Researchers conducted an experiment to answer this question:
Treatments:
Who was treated?
How did they get treated?
What were the survey questions?
Could it be that people who are less prejudiced more open to making gay friends and acquaintances?
Could it be any effect is simply from having someone come to the door?
What if gay canvassers are different than straight in other ways?
What was the sample?
What were the comparisons?
(directly tied to assumptions we make about evidence)
Results have confidence intervals
Results leave questions
Go to menti.com and enter the code \(4139 \ 2801\)
Poll:
For the story of the fraud and replication, listen here