Pluralism and the Public Value of Social Science

Abstract

Abstract This chapter argues that adopting a particular approach to pluralism is a key to increasing the public value of social scientific research. The approach is to be as transparent and as honest as possible about the procedures that produce social scientific claims. This approach is applicable to any social scientific method. Greater honesty and transparency increase the public value of social science by empowering its users to better understand where a given claim does—and does not—apply. Operating in this way gives social scientists new opportunities to provide an incredible form of service to people around the world.