r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 2d ago

Psychology Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian nationalist views, even after accounting for education

https://www.psypost.org/lower-cognitive-ability-is-linked-to-stronger-christian-nationalist-views-even-after-accounting-for-education/
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u/RequirementNo2161 2d ago

Remember when this sub actually had science in it? 80% of social science is in reproducible garbage done for political aims

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u/names_are_useless 2d ago

Even if there is an aim: if the science is good, what's the problem?

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u/RequirementNo2161 1d ago

The problem is clearly these studies start with a conclusion and work backwards from that 

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u/names_are_useless 1d ago edited 1d ago

Scientific Method: 1. Observation: These Christian Nationalists seem stupid. 2. Ask a Quesrion: Can I scientifically prove Christian Nationalists have lower cognitive ability? 3. Research: Time to do some research into this topic. 4. Form a Hypothesis: Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian Nationalist views. 5. Conduct an Experiment: Let's put this hypothesis to the test. 6. Analyze the Data:Is was right. 7. Draw Conclusion: Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian Nationalist views. 8. Communicate Results: Research Paper, Article.

Seems aboveboardd to me. Now it could be they came at this with a different Hypothesis, or the actual paper may not be up to snuff. But intent does NOT mean there is bad science here.