Attitudinal difference surveys perpetuate harmful tropes: A comment on Nattrass
- Authors: Rosenberg, Eureta , Le Grange, Lesley
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/370129 , vital:66300 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/8469"
- Description: We reply to the article, ‘Why are black South African students less likely to consider studying biological sciences?’, authored by University of Cape Town (UCT) researcher Nicoli Nattrass1 and published in the South African Journal of Science on 27 May 2020. At the time of writing our reply the article had already received sharp criticism from the Black Academic Caucus at UCT and in a statement released on 5 June 2020, the UCT executive distanced itself from the content of the paper, inviting rigorous, respectful review of the published research. Nattrass’ article1 follows two papers published in 2019 by scholars associated with South African universities, both of which were widely denounced for the racist undertones of their content. The first article was authored by Stellenbosch University researchers who reported on low cognitive functioning of coloured women linked to education levels and lifestyles2 ; see comment by Le Grange3 . The second article was co-authored by an adjunct professor at UCT and examined the role of cognitive ability or intelligence on slave exports from Africa4 . These publications gave rise to a broader debate on enduring racism in science and the re-ascendency of race science internationally. In this reply, we focus on the methodology of attitudinal survey used for the study reported by Nattrass (and by many other scientists). There are two lines of argument that we weave together: the quality of the research as reported, and problems inherent to comparative attitudinal survey research (regardless of how well it is executed). It should be noted that the Black Academic Caucus at UCT has also critiqued the research design, identifying many of the points we make here, and they have additionally included a discourse analysis of the paper (circulated via e-mail). To demonstrate how problematic a survey design can be, particularly when it is not rigorously executed, we share data and observations that counter the apparent findings of Nattrass’ study. We then argue that the publication of this research, in this manner, is detrimental to the biodiversity sector in which the tropes being perpetuated, can cause enormous harm. In the process we hope to encourage scientists to be more reflexive about their methodology, and we encourage the South African Journal of Science to publish works that are worthy of the young people of this country - research in which they can recognise themselves, rather than being forced to look at reductionist portrayals, legitimised under the banner of science.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Editorial
- Authors: Schudel, Ingrid J , Le Grange, Lesley , Reddy, Chris
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/387193 , vital:68214 , xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajee/article/view/167508"
- Description: The unprecedented levels of human influence on the global enviroment have drawn the attention of scientists to the extent that in 2002, the Nobel Laureate, Paul Crutzen, helped in postulating a new geological epoch named the Anthropocene (Crutzen, 2002). This idea is not new and Crutzen describes an observation by an Italian geologist named Antonio Stoppani who, in 1873, spoke about an 'anthropozoic era'. Stoppani described this era as a 'new telluric force which in power and universality may be compared to the greater forces of earth' (Stoppani, 1873 in Crutzen, 2002).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Global Climate Change, Adaptation and Abatement in a Context of Risk and Vulnerability
- Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Le Grange, Lesley
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437338 , vital:73371 , ISBN 9780826440655 , https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/climate-change-and-philosophy-9780826440655/
- Description: Climate Change and Philosophy presents ten original es-says by an international team of expert contributors, ex-ploring the important contribution philosophical inquiry can make to contemporary debates to do with climate change and the global environment. Examining this hugely topical issue through the lens of environmental philosophy, political theory, philosophy of technology, philosophy of education and feminist theory, these es-says interrogate some of the presumptions that inform modernity and our interaction with natural processes. The book asks fundamental questions about human na-ture and, more importantly, the concept of 'nature' itself. The conceptual frameworks presented here contribute to an understanding of the processes of change, of social transformation, and the means of adapting to the con-straints that problems such as climate change pose. The book proposes a way of beginning the important task of rethinking the relationship between humanity and the natural environment. Through enquiry into the basic philosophical principles that inform modern society, each author asserts that reflection informs change and that change is both required and possible in the context of the environmental crisis facing us today.
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- Date Issued: 2010