The Politics of Social Research: This session involves exploring how political considerations and world views inform research design and interpretation (contrary to the protestations of researchers who hold they are immune to such influence). The issue is discussed with particular reference to two case examples: research on corporal punishment of children and the Rind et al. (1998) meta-analytic study with college samples on the properties of child sexual abuse.

Advanced Reading Suggestion: 

Rind et al. (1998) A Meta-Analytic Examination of Assumed Properties of Child Sexual Abuse Using College Samples.Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 124, No. 1, 22-53.