Martyn Hammersley

Figures in red and blue shout at each other through megaphones

Imposing viewpoint diversity is the wrong cure for academia’s ills

We need greater openness among scholars on both the left and right to revise their views in light of counter-argument, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

17 March

A participant puts on his Santa beard during a gathering of volunteer student Santas and angels in Berlin, Germany

Unscientific social science is trading under false pretences

Social scientists must work hard to verify their conclusions. Too many that do not are rewarded anyway, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

19 December

Publishers must not feed the machine munching through the academy

Allowing Big Tech to train AIs on academic output will only exacerbate the threat posed to teaching and research, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

26 September

Collage including Islamist militants, defence secretary Grant Shapps and the BBC's Mishal Husain

The BBC’s commitment to impartiality sets an example for social science

As Max Weber taught, scholars must respect the distinction between facts and values, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

18 October

Objectivity scepticism is loosening universities’ grasp of their purpose

Some politicians are using the supposed ideological character of research to justify imposing greater control over it, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

22 September

Montage image of a man holding onto robot arms to illustrate Can AI free universities from the institutional bean-counting scourge?

Will AI liberate research from institutional bean-counting?

ChatGPT’s ability to churn out mediocre papers should lead us to reappraise how research is carried out, reported and evaluated, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

22 June

Old style bicycle with flat tyres chained up on fence railings with syringes around the wheels to illustrate Social research is being stymied by excessive ethical oversight

Social research is being stymied by excessive ethical oversight

Projects that pose no risk to participants are being distorted or prevented by regulations designed for medical interventions, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

13 April

Political bias is undermining social science

If those on both the Left and Right fail to examine basic assumptions, knowledge advancement is impaired, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

5 January

Footballers arguing with the referee in the centre to illustrate

Can peer review survive social science’s paradigm wars?

If authors are no longer required to justify their fundamental assumptions, where does that leave referees, asks Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

19 July

The REF is an exercise in fantasy accountancy and management

Long-standing debates about what ‘research quality’ means make it obvious that the REF can be little more than make-believe, says Martyn Hammersley

By Martyn Hammersley

16 May

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