Category: research ethics

ableism, great studies, History of Research, Human Rights, Misogyny, Personal Thoughts, Racism, Research As Social Justice, research ethics

Nothing meaningful is ever simple: The danger of dichotomizing variables

Quantitative research looks for mathematical relationships and statistically significant differences between neatly defined concepts, called variables.  It is often described as elegant, simple, and therefore definitive and scientific, and here's where I'm going to start throwing down. Partly because the idea that simpler equates to more scientific, and therefore more correct, strikes me as inherently … Continue reading Nothing meaningful is ever simple: The danger of dichotomizing variables

Bad Studies, Human Rights, Misogyny, Mother and Parent Shaming, poverty, Racism, research ethics

More feminist beef: Anonymous public observations, parent-shaming and smart phones.

Starting about a month after smart phones became affordable for the non-millionaires among us, people have been wringing their hands and worrying about the children.  What will constant access to the interwebs do to the children?! And what will happen if, god forbid, PARENTS use smartphones in front of their kids?!?! Fueling this hand-wringing is … Continue reading More feminist beef: Anonymous public observations, parent-shaming and smart phones.