Academic Pediatric Journal Attacks Music!

[scriptgirl]

Okay, perhaps attack is the wrong word - but I thought this might start some interesting conversation - especially if there are some music fans on this forum. See link to article below:http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/

Comments

[kaygigi]

Black kids who like black music turn out to be delinquents! That isn't stereotyped racism, it is scientific fact! Black kids are delinquents!
/sarcasm

I love examples of bad methods, confirmation biases, and other signifiers of racism, classism, etc, in academic work. Thanks for sharing!.

[kaygigi]

Reading further: the study was conducted in the Netherlands, so that explains some of the latent racism. But if you get to the discussion (worth it!) you'll find gems like the fact that previous research shows that adolescents who are alienated from their families and rely upon peer support more than familial support are more likely to listen to deviant music and more likely to be delinquents later. Ok, that makes sense, and we've found our confounding variable: social alienation. But no! Not to these idiots who obviously failed their sociology classes on the way to med school! To identify and prevent adolescent delinquency, we must monitor and correct for deviant music choices, not work on social alienation among 12 year olds.

::headdesk::

Still saving this one for a methods and/or deviance class.

[trundle]

latent racism

You're so polite with your qualifying adjectives. ;)

[scriptgirl]

I think this is a great example of what not to do/what does not work that could be used in research methods classes.

[kaygigi]

Exactly. It could be kind of fun, for each kind of research mistake you find in this article, you get five points. Which ever team of students comes up with the most points wins.

[urbancomfort]

Sounds like my first year doctoral seminar...