scholarly journals On SSK and Conversing with Scientists: Eugénia Rodrigues Talks with Michael J. Mulkay

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 408
Author(s):  
Eugenia Rodrigues ◽  
Michael J. Mulkay
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Literary Forms ◽  
Methodological Rigor ◽  
The Us ◽  
Visa Application ◽  
Foundational Work ◽  
Career Moves

Mike Mulkay takes Eugénia Rodrigues through a journey that revisits his involvement in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge and STS. They talk dates, career moves, foundational work, books, and how it all started with a denied visa application from the US. Running under this formalistic level, though, other themes emerge: the notion of a “field” and its meaning in STS; the observed lack of epistemological and methodological rigor in research practice; Mulkay’s unsuccessful (on his own account) project on the literary forms or his unfazed take on the work produced by the “Edinburgh School.” It is a fascinating expedition and one that reveals some very present-day questions for STS, not least about the meanings of engagement and reflexivity. A reflection by Eugénia Rodrigues follows the interview.

“I Know Correlation Doesn’t Prove Causation, but . . .”: Are We Jumping to Unfounded Conclusions About the Causes of Sexual Offending?

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L. Nunes ◽  
Chloe I. Pedneault ◽  
W. Eric Filleter ◽  
Sacha Maimone ◽  
Carolyn Blank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Methodological Rigor ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Differences Of Opinion ◽  
Information Sensitivity ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency

Identifying causes of sexual offending is the foundation of effective and efficient assessment, intervention, and policy aimed at reducing sexual offending. However, studies vary in methodological rigor and the inferences they support, and there are differences of opinion about the conclusions that can be drawn from ambiguous evidence. To explore how researchers in this area interpret the available empirical evidence, we asked authors of articles published in relevant specialized journals to identify (a) an important factor that may lead to sexual offending, (b) a study providing evidence of a relationship between that factor and sexual offending, and (c) the inferences supported by that study. Many participants seemed to endorse causal interpretations and conclusions that went beyond the methodological rigor of the study they identified. Our findings suggest that some researchers may not be adequately considering methodological issues when making inferences about the causes of sexual offending. Although it is difficult to conduct research in this area and all research designs can provide valuable information, sensitivity to the limits methodology places on inferences is important for the sake of accuracy and integrity, and to stimulate more informative research. We propose that increasing attention to methodology in the research community through better training and standards will advance scientific knowledge about the causes of sexual offending, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of practice and policy.

Coping With the Infodemic With Scientific Knowledge Management

2022 ◽  
pp. 14-35
Author(s):  
Jorge Biolchini ◽  
Eliane Azevedo Gomes ◽  
Elaine Cristina Ferreira Dias ◽  
Tatiana Figueiredo
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Methodological Rigor ◽  
Group Information ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Science Technology And Innovation ◽  
Support Decision Making

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a challenge to the health area and generated an enormous amount of information, some accurate and some not, which made it difficult to locate reliable sources of information. Scientific knowledge has become the best way to mitigate this infodemiological process. Observatories are instruments to support decision making, seeking to integrate different sources of information and communicate the results using research methodologies such as the COVID-19 Scientific Evidence Observatory. Created by members of the research group Information in Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health, of the IBICT, it aims to meet the informational demands of the most varied audiences. Its development methodology involves a knowledge management team that uses the methodological rigor of the systematic literature review to seek, evaluate, synthesize, and enable access to reliable and qualified sources of information. It provides access to different sources of national and international information from the Kaleidoscope of Science.

Beyond the Nature/Culture Division. Building Complementary Knowledge on Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 105-131
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Derra
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Medical Humanities ◽  
Philosophy Of Biology ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Feminist Studies ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Humanities And Social Sciences ◽  
Feminist Materialism

The aim of the article is to present successful instances of building complementary knowledge on disease which go beyond the traditional division between natural and socio-cultural sciences. I argue that this is partially possible due to the changes in biological narratives and feminism’s attitude towards biology, with reciprocal references. First, I describe selected trends in the philosophy of biology which reflect changes in biological research towards more non-reductionist approaches. Then, I present some important aspects of the recent current in feminist studies called ‘new feminist materialism,’ and underline its clear attempt at combining research results from physics, biology, humanities, and social sciences. Finally, I present some main facets of studies on disease: in feminist reflection, Ludwik Fleck’s psycho-sociology of scientific knowledge, and in the medical humanities approach.

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