Abstract:

Recent discoveries across science make clear that the way we do research and market it to others incurs bias. This bias is present prior to, during and after conducting research. This bias takes on myriad forms. I discuss some of this bias in this talk as a method of self-awareness, and a step in the direction of correcting it. Therefore, the talk proceeds with a discussion of bias in general and how this might be specific to sociological research and the sociological career. Then I present my own research on public preferences for redistribution. I show how some of this bias can be accounted for through open science practices and a multiverse analysis approach. In this particular study, I propose a theory of government heuristics that impacts the way individuals respond differently to the same survey questions across countries. Where government affect is more negative, individuals are less likely to express preferences for redistribution that are consistent with their ideals. This helps explain an observable paradox, where many individuals say that there is too much inequality in their society, but disagree that the government should take redistributive action. I run some tests of this theory using International Social Survey Program Data covering many rich and middle income countries of the world.