Can Quantitative Research Solve Social Problems? Pragmatism and the Ethics of Social Research

Journal of Business Ethics recently published a critique of ethical practices in quantitative research by Zyphur and Pierides (J Bus Ethics 143:1-16, 2017). The authors argued that quantitative research prevents researchers from addressing urgent problems facing humanity today, such as poverty, raci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of business ethics 2020-11, Vol.167 (1), p.41-48
Main Author: Powell, Thomas C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Business and Management
Business Ethics
Climate change
COMMENTARY
Education
Ethics
Management
Philosophy
Poverty
Pragmatism
Quality of Life Research
Quantitative analysis
Racial inequality
Racism
Social problems
Social research
Worldview
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Summary:Journal of Business Ethics recently published a critique of ethical practices in quantitative research by Zyphur and Pierides (J Bus Ethics 143:1-16, 2017). The authors argued that quantitative research prevents researchers from addressing urgent problems facing humanity today, such as poverty, racial inequality, and climate change. I offer comments and observations on the authors' critique. I agree with the authors in many areas of philosophy, ethics, and social research, while making suggestions for clarification and development. Interpreting the paper through the pragmatism of William James, I suggest that the authors' arguments are unlikely to change attitudes in traditional quantitative research, though they may point the way to a new worldview, or Jamesian "sub-world," in social research.
ISSN:0167-4544
1573-0697
DOI:10.1007/s10551-019-04196-7