Higher Ed’s New Human-Subjects Problem

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | March 18, 2026 | James L. Nuzzo

[karpov]

Intellectual rot within universities has become increasingly obvious. It stems from the widespread adoption of critical, feminist, and queer theories in academic work. The result has been a constant stream of illogical, unscientific, and otherwise incoherent academic papers. Organizations such as the Martin Center, Do No Harm, the National Association of Scholars, The College Fix, and Reality’s Last Stand have been at the forefront of exposing all of this.

I think there is more to expose, however, not just in terms of the total volume of this wrongheaded work but also in terms of its misdirected moral compass. Whereas critiques of misguided scholarship often emphasize that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money and leads to ill-conceived public policies and healthcare practices, I also believe that human-participant research informed by “critical” epistemology is prone to violating core principles of ethical research. Moreover, I believe that such work often does not meet the definition of research. Therefore, in many instances, human-participant research informed by critical theory should not be approved by university institutional review boards (IRBs).

In 2025, activist academics at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University published a paper in Child Development titled “Learning (Not) to Know: Examining How White Ignorance Manifests and Functions in White Adolescents’ Racial Identity Narratives.”

The “study,” which was “approved by the university research board,” involved interviews with 69 white adolescents. Its purpose was to examine how “white adolescents demonstrate and engage with (via accommodation and resistance) white ignorance in their racial identity narratives.”

In their interviews, the adolescents were asked questions such as: What are some of the good things about being white? What are some of the things that are hard about being white? Can you think of a time when you were treated differently because of your race?

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TOPICS: Education; Science
KEYWORDS: academia; college; research

[Resolute Conservative]

If you want to see a good example of how stupid PC is watch the show “The Madison” on Paramount Plus. It demonstrates the stupidity that NYC city dwellers demonstrate when they spew their PC lingo on others when trying to sound enlightened.

The show itself was surprisingly good (Pfieffer acting was really good) and the scenery itself is a reason to watch.

[goodnesswins]

Yes...been watching. Love the scenery.

[ClearCase_guy]

If the adolescents did not make racist remarks, then the activist academics would conclude that the adolescents had exhibited “white ignorance.” If the adolescents did make racist comments, then the activist academics would say that the adolescents showed direct evidence of racism. In other words: Heads, I win; tails, you lose!

People who talk about race are racists. Any study or conversation on the topic of race is stupid and hateful and racist. The race mongers need to shut up. There is nothing to say.

[ConservativeMind]

So is it a PC show, or does it make PC look bad?

[Jeff Chandler]

https://youtu.be/qH68_VaFuB4?si=No0d8TWgo-Hluo4N

[Kudsman]

What are some of the good things about being white?

We got rhythm and can jump really high.

[aquila48]

So you think all races are on the AVERAGE the same?

And if you go looking for a dog you can’t/don’t differentiate between a pit bull and a poodle?

[Resolute Conservative]

Makes PC look bad and stupid.

[JimRed]

Intellectual rot within universities has become increasingly obvious.

Universities are infested with intellectuals.

INTELLECTUAL (in-tuh-LEK-chu-el): An individual educated beyond his intelligence who, being unable or unwilling to create or provide anything of value to others, hides out in a college, university or think-tank and pontificates, expecting to be paid for it, usually from public funds.