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A predominance of self-identified Democrats is no evidence of a leftward bias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2015

Benjamin E. Hilbig  and
Morten Moshagen
Benjamin E. Hilbig
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Lab, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-76829 Landau, Germany. [email protected]/hilbig
Morten Moshagen
Affiliation:
Research Methods, Institute of Psychology, University of Kassel, D-34127 Kassel, Germany. [email protected]/go/research-methods
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Abstract

The reasoning of Duarte et al. hinges on the basic premise that a positive ratio of Democrats versus Republicans implies a political bias. However, when placed in a global and historical context, it is evident that U.S. Democrats currently represent a moderate position on the political left–right spectrum. Thus, Duarte et al. provide no evidence of a leftward bias in the scientific community.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 38 , 2015 , e146
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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