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Comment by angrycontrarian | Hacker News Reader

Would the article have been published if the author found evidence to the contrary?

This sort of response encapsulates the conservative victimhood complex. Whenever any data or research comes out that contradicts their viewpoints, the go-to is to assume bias and dismiss it without addressing its actual merits.

The writer is an Economics major, not one of the softer social sciences. According to a 2010 study[1] (yeah, yeah boy have things changed since then!), the more economics classes one takes, the more likely they are to lean Republican.

So would someone in a field that is split evenly between conservative and liberal viewpoints publish a paper with findings that suggest the conservative viewpoint is correct? Yes, don’t be silly, it clearly happens all the time. No reason to get conspiratorial here.

[1] https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/staff...

Do you mean self-published, like this is, or in some peer reviewed journal?

Not speaking for OG, but: associated with his real name, while (as a PhD in econ) deeply dependent on reputation-contingent job prospects.

People can have careers ruined by a tweet; self-published article under your own name is in no way free from constraints.

I understand what you are saying. But publishing evidence that exposure to liberal professors makes students more liberal is not the kind of thing that would hurt your job prospects as a PhD in econ. It would be seen as interesting and intriguing work.

You could pose this question about pretty much any research.

And you should. If the opposite could not have been published, or would have had enormous donwsides, you should discount its objectivity, same like if I pull out a knife and demand your wallet, one should discount your voluntariness.

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