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The Limits of Conventional Justification: Inductive Risk and Industry Bias Beyond Conventionalism.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Ohnesorge, Miguel 

Abstract

This article develops a constructive criticism of methodological conventionalism. Methodological conventionalism asserts that standards of inductive risk ought to be justified in virtue of their ability to facilitate coordination in a research community. On that view, industry bias occurs when conventional methodological standards are violated to foster industry preferences. The underlying account of scientific conventionality, however, is insufficient for theoretical and practical reasons. Conventions may be justified in virtue of their coordinative functions, but often qualify for posterior empirical criticism as research advances. Accordingly, industry bias does not only threaten existing conventions but may impede their empirically warranted improvement if they align with industry preferences. My empiricist account of standards of inductive risk avoids such a problem by asserting that conventional justification can be pragmatically warranted but has, in principle, only a provisional status. Methodological conventions, therefore, should not only be defended from preference-based infringements of their coordinative function but ought to be subjected to empirical criticism.

Description

Keywords

conventionalism, inductive risk, industry bias, methodological conventions, randomized controlled trials, values in science

Journal Title

Front Res Metr Anal

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2504-0537
2504-0537

Volume Title

5

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA