Some intelligent science, thankfully. The Hollaback video also shows why “data” without theory can be so misleading—and how the same data can fit multiple theories. Since all data collection involves some form of data selection (even the biggest dataset has selection going into what gets included, from what source), and since data selection is always a research method, there is always a need for understanding methods. First, let’s list all the hypothesis compatible with the “data”, this video: Hypothesis 1- Men of color are disproportionately more likely to catcall, especially to a white, conventionally attractive female. Hypothesis 2- All men are equally likely to catcall but the makers of the video were biased, consciously or unconsciously, against black men (and edited out men of other races on purpose.) 2.a Consciously: they are racists and are playing to the “white women endangered by black men” trope — which has a long and ugly history, hence the concern raised by many over the past week. 2.b Unconsciously: There is a methodological twist to the research which creates this outcome. 2.c. Both 2.a. and 2.b are true. Hypothesis 3- It’s a spurious correlation: there is some other reason that caused these two events to go together The important methodological point is that the video, without further reflection, can support all three wildly incompatible propositions.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:19:48 +0000
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