Good Science

Good Science is an account of psychological research emphasizing the moral foundations of inquiry. This volume brings together existing disciplinary critiques of scientism, objectivism, and instrumentalism, and then discusses how these contribute to institutionalized privilege and to less morally responsive research practices. The author draws on historical, critical, feminist, and science studies traditions to provide an alternative account of psychological science and to highlight the irreducibly moral foundations of everyday scientific practice. This work outlines a theoretical framework for thinking about and practicing psychology in ways that center moral responsibility, collective commitment, and justice. The book then applies this framework, describing psychological research practices in terms of the their moral dilemmas. Also included are materials meant to aid in methods instruction and mentoring.

Legacy of Jon Tennant, “Open science is just good science”

This work is a transcribed and edited collection of the message delivered by Jon Tennant in his talk “Open science is just good science”, May 21st, 2018. In readable form with many links, this paper provides a primer on open science and the open science movement. It details the problems with closed access science as it is still practiced today, and how big publishing as an industry is largely responsible. It talks about the ethics behind open science practices. It provides many statistics and links to information about paywalls, movements such as Project DEAL, workflows, and personal and community issues such as fear and cultural inertia that may prevent us from adopting better science practices.

Dead-Ends and New Directions

The aim of this article is to investigate how Abraham Kuyper and some late neo-Calvinists have addressed the doctrine of creation in light of the challenges posed by evolutionary scientific theory. I argue that most neo-Calvinists today, particularly scholars from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), continue Kuyper’s legacy by holding the core principles of a creationist worldview. Yet, they have taken a new direction by explaining the natural history of the earth in evolutionary terms. In my analysis, Kuyper’s heirs at the VU today offer judicious parameters to guide Christians in conversation with evolutionary science, precisely because of their high appreciation of good science and awareness of the nonnegotiable elements that make up the orthodox Christian narrative.

On Skepticism and Ocean Dynamics

Two correspondents urge physicists to get more involved with climate science. The next generation of physicists should be convinced that this is not just good science, but fascinating science.

What Does Good Science-Based Advice to Politics Look Like?

I address options for providing scientific policy advice and explore the relation between scientific knowledge and political, economic and moral values. I argue that such nonepistemic values are essential for establishing the significance of questions and the relevance of evidence, while, on the other hand, such social choices are the prerogative of society. This tension can be resolved by recognizing social values and identifying them as separate premises or as commissions while withholding commitment to them, and by elaborating a plurality of policy packages that envisage the implementation of different social goals. There are limits to upholding the value-free ideal in scientific research. But by following the mentioned strategy, science can give useful policy advice by leaving the value-free ideal largely intact. Such scientific restraint avoids the risk of appearing to illegitimately impose values on the public and could make the advice given more trustworthy.

Scientific Uncertainty and Biodiversity Inventory

All sciences, including biological science, have uncertainty, and they complicate theoretical questions. Uncertainty essentially is a mark of good science, and its efficacious communication is even essential for better decisions. Explaining the research work uncertainties indicates that the scientists are aware of the vital difference between the known and the unknown. Uncertainty is equally significant in biodiversity studies. Species composition of any area can’t be predicted with certainty because of interwoven relationships between species diversity and climatic and anthropogenic factors. Good survey planning with acceptable animal welfare practices could lead to asymptote for inventory of any particular area. Scientists can handle uncertainty in their studies by sensible statistics and reasonably large sample size.

All these wishes will not be just wishes

So, I wish that I will have more freedom to take care of myself. I wish that I will have more freedom to understand science and practice good science. I wish that I can work in long-term projects that will contribute meaningfully to my community. I wish that … all these wishes will not be just wishes.