How should social scientists think about what we are doing? Here are two viewpoints, which are both wrong. The first is that social science is activism. The demand for “objectivity” and “neutrality” is a strategy of power to prevent radical social change. Instead of being objective, social scientists should be committed radicals.
Humans cannot be unbiased, but minimizing bias is a vocational duty. Don't just play by the rules, adopt the spirit of the rules and seek to be as unbiased as you can. Go further: don't just temper your biased impulses, accept the depth of our ignorance. Cede your ground enthusiastically to the data! Learn to enjoy it. I hope I can.
Thank you.
May I offer a more demanding ideal?
Humans cannot be unbiased, but minimizing bias is a vocational duty. Don't just play by the rules, adopt the spirit of the rules and seek to be as unbiased as you can. Go further: don't just temper your biased impulses, accept the depth of our ignorance. Cede your ground enthusiastically to the data! Learn to enjoy it. I hope I can.