A Contractarian Solution to the Experimenter’s Regress

Bibliographic Data

ID10703779
AuthorsDavid Teira (0000-0002-4551-2371, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume80
Issue5
Pages709-720
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1086/673717
OpenAlexW2176840166
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited13

Debiasing procedures are experimental methods aimed at correcting errors arising from the cognitive biases of the experimenter. We discuss two of these methods, the predesignation rule and randomization, showing to what extent they are open to the experimenter’s regress: there is no metarule to prove that, after implementing the procedure, the experimental data are actually free from biases. We claim that, from a contractarian perspective, these procedures are nonetheless defensible since they provide a warrant of the impartiality of the experiment: we only need proof that the result has not been intentionally manipulated for prima facie acceptance

Cognition · Cognitive bias · Debiasing · Economics · Epistemology · Impartiality · Perspective (graphical) · Prima facie · Warrant · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access