Editorials & Other Articles

Viva_La_Revolution

(28,791 posts) Sat Mar 31, 2012, 02:10 PM Mar 2012

Conservatives versus Science: A New Scientific Validation of the Republican War on Science

http://www.desmogblog.com/conservatives-versus-science-new-scientific-validation-republican-war-science-and-republican-brain-thesis
For a while now, I’ve been aware of a powerful new paper that directly tests the central argument of my 2005 book The Republican War on Science—and also validates some key claims made in my new book, The Republican Brain. I’ve had to keep quiet about it until now; but at last, the study is out—though I’m not sure yet about a web link to it.

The research is by Gordon Gauchat of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and published in the prestigious American Sociological Review. In the study, Gauchat uses a vast body of General Social Survey data to test three competing theses about the relationship between science and the U.S. public: the rest is at the link

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Conservatives versus Science: A New Scientific Validation of the Republican War on Science (Original Post) Viva_La_Revolution Mar 2012 OP

--The Republican war on rationality. Jackpine Radical Mar 2012 #1

I always find these studies on conservative thought interesting SpartanDem Mar 2012 #2

R&K for Chris Mooney longship Mar 2012 #3

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)

1. --The Republican war on rationality.

Reply to Viva_La_Revolution (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 03:02 PM

Mar 2012

SpartanDem

(4,533 posts)

2. I always find these studies on conservative thought interesting

Reply to Viva_La_Revolution (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 03:12 PM

Mar 2012

it easy to say they're just stupid, but there is some really fascinating research out there on these people.

For one thing, well-informed or well-educated conservatives probably consume more conservative news and opinion, such as by watching Fox News. Thus, they are more likely to know what they’re supposed to think about the issues—what people like them think—and to be familiar with the arguments or reasons for holding these views. If challenged, they can then recall and reiterate these arguments. They’ve made them a part of their identities, a part of their brains, and in doing so, they’ve drawn a strong emotional connection between certain “facts” or claims, and their deeply held political values. And they’re ready to argue.

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/24/the_ugly_delusions_of_the_educated_conservative/singleton/

longship

(40,416 posts)

3. R&K for Chris Mooney

Reply to Viva_La_Revolution (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 05:55 PM

Mar 2012

He really nails it, with documented resources.

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