Exploring the Values Served by Standardization

Kevin Elliott from the Michigan State University is coming to Durham to give a talk at the CHESS research seminar. The talk is titled:

Values, Science, and Institutions: Exploring the Values Served by Standardization

There has been increasing interest in the “values and science” literature on the ways that organizations and institutions mediate and promote the influences of values in scientific research. This talk builds on this recent focus by exploring the value-laden nature of the methodological standards (e.g., rules, norms, guidelines) used to guide research. The talk will highlight how methodological standardization can serve some values (e.g., promoting reproducibility and preventing bias) while detracting from other values (e.g., epistemic diversity and expert judgment). To develop a richer understanding of the value-laden character of methodological standardization, the talk will consider regulatory toxicology as a case study and explore lessons for implementing methodological standardization in a responsible fashion.