About UsAmerican universities have leaned left for a long time. That is not a serious problem; as long as there are some people with a different political perspective in every field and every department, we can assume that eventually, someone will challenge claims that reflect ideology more than evidence.But things began changing in the 1990s as the Greatest Generation (which had a fair number of Republicans) retired and were replaced by the Baby Boom generation (which did not). As the graph below shows, in the 15 years between 1995 and 2010 the academy went from leaning left to being almost entirely on the left. (The 12% in the red line for 2014 is mostly made up of professors in schools of engineering and other professional schools; the percent conservative for the major humanities and social science departments is closer to 5%. For more data on these trends and the rising imbalance, see Gross & Simmons, 2007; Inbar & Lammers, 2012; see many links here: http://people.stern.nyu.edu/jhaidt/postpartisan.html).HeterodoxAcademy.org was founded to call attention to this trend and the problems it is causing for scholarship, particularly in the social sciences and related fields (such as law and public policy). The word heterodox means “not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards of beliefs.” We chose that word to contrast with “orthodoxy,” which refers to conforming with accepted norms and beliefs. Orthodoxy has religious connotations, but it can be applied to any view that becomes dogma or dogmatic, such as “orthodox Marxism,” “social constructionist orthodoxy,” or “free market orthodoxy.”Heterodox AcademyHA2_3861a7a2-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bWe are all professors who have endorsed this statement: "I believe that university life requires that people with diverse viewpoints and perspectives encounter each other in an environment where they feel free to speak up and challenge each other. I am concerned that many academic fields and universities currently lack sufficient viewpoint diversity -- particularly political diversity. I will support viewpoint diversity in my academic field, my university, my department, and my classroom."We are diverse in our politics and in our academic fields. But we have come together to discuss ways of improving the academy by enhancing viewpoint diversity and the conditions that encourage free inquiry.Heterodox Academy Executive CommitteeDecisions are made by an executive committee:Jonathan HaidtNew York UniversityApril Kelly-WoessnerElizabethtown CollegeCristine LegareUniversity of Texas - AustinScott LilienfeldEmory UniversityChris MartinEmory UniversityNicholas RosenkranzGeorgetown UniversitySean StevensNew York UniversityJeremy WillingerNew York UniversityHeterodox Academy Advisory BoardThe executive committee is advised by the advisory board, Sam AbramsSarah Lawrence College, Political ScienceGerard AlexanderUniversity of Virginia, Political ScienceJudith CurryGeorgia Institute of Technology, Climate ScienceDan KleinGeorge Mason University, EconomicsScott LilienfeldEmory University, PsychologyGlenn LouryBrown University, EconomicsJohn McGinnisNorthwestern University, LawJohn McWhorterColumbia University, LinguisticsSteven PinkerHarvard University, PsychologyPhil TetlockUniversity of Pennsylvania, PsychologyGeorge YanceyUniversity of North Texas, SociologyAmy WaxUniversity of Pennsylvania, LawHeterodox Academy Support StaffAdditional personnel and roles:Chris MartinBlog co-editorSean StevensResearch director, WebmasterJeremy WillingerCommunications director, Membership director, Blog co-editorAmerican UniversitiesJohn Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill spoke for us all back in 1859, in On Liberty: "He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion… Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them…he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form."Heterodox Academy ScholarsHeterodox Academy includes active and respected scholars from across the social sciences and related disciplines (such as law). We are a mix of progressives, conservatives, libertarians, and centrists who have coalesced around the need to create a credible counterforce to entrenched orthodoxies. [See listing at http://heterodoxacademy.org/about-us/]_3861b238-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bTo increase viewpoint diversity in the academy._3861b239-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bEvidenceSometimes (to paraphrase the evolutionary biologist, Stephen Jay Gould), ideas become accepted because there is so much evidence in support of them that it would be perverse to believe otherwise (e.g., the Earth is round; modern living species are descended from earlier ones). Other times, however, ideas become widely accepted, even entrenched, without any real evidence. Such entrenched beliefs often arise because they support particular political or moral agendas; if the beliefs are falsified, the moral agenda will be threatened.Examples of entrenched yet questionable orthodoxies include:* Humans are a blank slate, and "human nature" does not exist.* All differences between human groups are caused by differential treatment of those groups, or by differential media portrayals of group members.* Social stereotypes do not correspond to any real differences.Scholarly InquiryHowever, if academics were predominantly conservative or libertarian, a very different set of equally unjustified orthodoxies would likely be prevalent. Such orthodoxies forestall scholarly inquiry.DiversityThere is a strong consensus in the academic world that diversity is important because bringing diverse viewpoints to bear on social, intellectual, philosophical, legal, and moral problems is likely to enhance the quality of the scholarship that bears on those issues. We enthusiastically embrace this view. The academic world must have viewpoint diversity if it is to function properly and produce reliable research.HeterodoxyThe dangers of orthodoxy to the academy are many:DisbeliefWe do our colleagues students a disservice by not challenging their cherished beliefs. We fail as colleagues and as scholars when we allow unjustified dogmas or simply insufficiently justified claims go unchallenged.ThinkingWe fail as teachers to teach students the most important skill -- how to think.Counter-Arguments When we shield them from strong counter-arguments on the issues they care most about, we set them up for confusion and anger when they later encounter people who think differently.EffectivenessBy failing to contest inadequately justified dogmas, we risk advancing solutions that have no effect. For example, if a particular inequality does not result primarily from prejudice, and we engage in prejudice reduction efforts, we will fail to reduce that inequality.TolerancePromoters of orthodoxies often create an environment of intolerance for diversity of ideas and dissent in the very institution in which free exchange of ideas is its raison d'etre.Free SpeechFree speech and the exploration of unsettling ideas is threatened on many campuses If you think that goes too far, look at this post regarding the extent to which people have been intimidated by campus protests, and this post about Jon Haidt's experience at a high school: http://heterodoxacademy.org/2015/11/24/the-yale-problem-begins-in-high-school/RecommendationsIdentify recommendations made in books and published papers._3861b23a-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bIPsychology OrganizationsMake recommendations to the major professional organizations in psychology._3861b23b-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.APsychology OrganizationsAPAAPSSPSPSESPFrom Duarte, J. L., Crawford, J. T., Stern, C., Haidt, J., Jussim, L., & Tetlock, P.E. (2015). Political diversity will improve social psychological science.We offer a section of recommendations that the major professional organizations in psychology can take, particularly APA, APS, SPSP, and SESP. Here is that section:Diversity is a well-established value throughout the academy, and it enjoys broad support in psychology. The American Psychological Association has been very thoughtful about how to promote diversity within the field, and it issued a major report in 2005. Its task force focused on diversity with regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability, but most of the specific recommendations in the report are appropriate for promoting political diversity as well (American Psychological Association 2005). Below are five of the report’s 45 recommendations, which we have edited only slightly:PolicyFormulate and adopt an anti-discrimination policy resolution._3861b846-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.A.1StudyImplement a "climate study" regarding members' experiences, comfort/discomfort, and positive/negative attitudes/opinions/policies affecting or about members of politically diverse groups._3861b990-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.A.2DatabaseExpand the Publication and Communications Board's database of conservative, moderate, and libertarian researchers who have expertise to serve as ad hoc reviewers or on editorial boards._3861ba58-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.A.3Publication and Communications BoardTrainingConduct a study of barriers/obstacles that non-liberal students face within training programs._3861bb8e-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.A.4Non-Liberal StudentsConduct a study of barriers/obstacles that non-liberal students face within training programs, with the intent that these data subsequently be used in establishing formal suggestions for enabling the training of non-liberal students.StrategiesDevelop strategies to encourage and support research training programs and research conferences to attract, retain, and graduate conservative and other non-liberal doctoral students and early career professionals._3861bb8f-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.A.5Conservative Doctoral StudentsConservative Early Career ProfessionalsEach organization should develop strategies to encourage and support research training programs and research conferences to attract, retain, and graduate conservative and other non-liberal doctoral students and early career professionals. Examples might include dissertation awards, travel funds for presentations and attendance at conferences, and other financial support targeted to graduate students.Social Psychological ScienceImprove social psychological science._3861bb90-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.BFrom Crawford, Duarte, Haidt, Jussim, Stern, & Tetlock (2015), "It may be harder than we thought, but political diversity will (still) improve social psychological science".This article is our "response to the commentaries." Based on some helpful points raised in the commentaries, we revised the recommendations we made in our target article for actions that individuals can take. Here is the list of steps from our response article, aimed mostly at guiding individuals in their teaching and research:Acknowledgement & AwarenessAcknowledge the problem and raise awareness about it._3861bb91-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.1FeedbackSeek feedback from non-liberals._3861bb92-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.2Non-LiberalsDiversity StatementsExpand organizational diversity statements to include politics._3861bb93-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.3Academic WebsitesAdd a statement to your own academic website acknowledging that you encourage collaboration among people of diverse political views._3861bc42-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.6Pejorative TermsEliminate pejorative terms referring to non-liberals._3861bd64-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.5Eliminate pejorative terms referring to non-liberals; criticize others’ scholarship when they use those terms. As an editor or reviewer, do not permit such terms to pass without comment.Political HostilitiesAvoid "leakage" of political hostilities or presumptions (including jokes) when functioning in any teaching or research capacity, but especially around students and junior colleagues._3861be86-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.6Social Psychology CareersEncourage young scholars who are not liberals to pursue careers in social psychology._3861bfb2-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.7Young Scholarswho are not liberalDouble StandardsUse turnabout tests to reveal bias._3861c0fc-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.8Be alert to double standards.Adversarial CollaborationSupport adversarial collaborations._3861c264-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.9Support adversarial collaborations that encourage competing ideological camps to explore the boundary conditions on each other's claims, in joint data collection and model building efforts.AssignmentsAssign in classes the growing scholarship taking social psychology and related disciplines to task for having a scientific problem stemming from political bias._3861c39a-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.10Graduate StudentsAssign in classes, especially for graduate students, the growing scholarship taking social psychology and related disciplines to task for having a scientific problem stemming from political bias (Brandt et al. 2014; Crawford 2012; Eagly 1995; 2011; Inbar & Lammers 2012; Jussim 2012a; 2012b; Jussim et al., in press a; Redding 2001; Tetlock 1994). Teach eliminating such biases as a core component of methods, validity, and scientific integrity.ChecklistUse Washburn et al.'s checklist in one's own work, especially in politicized areas._3861c4c6-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.11FalsificationUse Popperian falsification. _3861c610-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.B.12If you are a liberal social psychologist, to guard against potential bias, seek to falsify rather than confirm your preferred prediction.ScholarshipExplore some of the scholarship on the nature, sources and manifestations of political biases and how to limit them._3861c764-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bI.CExplore some of the now-extensive scholarship on the nature, sources and manifestations of political biases, and on how to limit them, on our Readings page. http://heterodoxacademy.org/resources/publications/ InitiativesSupport those who want greater viewpoint diversity on campus and in academic disciplines._3861c87c-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bIIHeterodox Academy is currently developing several initiatives designed to support those who want greater viewpoint diversity on campus and in academic disciplines.Student ResolutionHelp students request that their collegiate government vote on a resolution to make their school a "Heterodox Academy"._3861ca48-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.1College StudentsAudience: Current students in colleges/universities, as well as prospective students who would prefer to attend Heterodox U rather than Orthodox U.University StudentsHigh School StudentsMay be of interest to high school students too.Description: Materials to help students request that their collegiate government vote on a resolution to make their school a “Heterodox Academy” where viewpoint diversity is supported.Viewpoint Diversity Reading ListPrepare readers to encounter and respect people with different values and beliefs._3861cb6a-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.2EducatorsAudience: Educators, administrators, and incoming college students ... AdministratorsCollege StudentsCorporationsalso suitable for use in corporations, NGOs, and other organizations that want to avoid the dangers of orthodoxy and reap the benefits of viewpoint diversity.NGOsOrganizationsDescription: A set of readings that can be used during first-year orientation (or at any point, in any organization) to prepare everyone to encounter and respect people with different values and beliefs.Status: Finalizing, with expected launch in January 2017. (But you can browse the project now -- and suggest readings!) http://heterodoxacademy.org/resources/diversity-reading-list/ Guide to CollegesHelp those who would prefer to attend Heterodox U, rather than Orthodox U._3861cce6-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.3High School StudentsAudience: High school students and their parents who are evaluating colleges.Parents of High School StudentsDescription: An online resource that collects all available information on the degree of orthodoxy/heterodoxy at America's top 150 universities, as well as at its top 50 liberal arts schools. Our Guide to Colleges will help those who would prefer to attend Heterodox U, rather than Orthodox U. Eventually we'll add up all the indicators to provide an overall rating and ranking of schools by viewpoint diversity.Status: First edition is online. A more reliable second edition will be posted by January 2017.InformationCollects information on the degree of orthodoxy/heterodoxy at America's top 150 universities, as well as at its top 50 liberal arts schools._3861ce80-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.3.aRating & RankingProvide a rating and ranking of schools by viewpoint diversity._3861cfde-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.3.bFearless Speech IndexMeasure the degree to which students feel free to speak up in class._3861d164-c7d0-11e6-b13b-d7aa3366cb4bII.4EducatorsAudience: Educators and administrators, in high school as well as college.AdministratorsDescription: A web-based survey that any professor, dean, or administrator can use to measure the degree to which students feel free to speak up in class, versus feeling that they are "walking on eggshells" and must keep quiet to avoid being punished for their questions or ideas. The FSI is the first survey that measures which kinds of people have which kinds of fears when talking about which specific topics. The FSI can help educators figure out exactly where the problems are, and what they must do to achieve the kind of open intellectual environment that nearly all say they want. The tool is also being evaluated for use in businesses that want to foster a "speak up" culture.Status: Coming soon, in early 20172016-12-21http://heterodoxacademy.org/about-us/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net