Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Psychology

Committee Chair

donald sacco

Committee Chair School

Psychology

Committee Member 2

mitch brown

Committee Member 3

alen hajnal

Committee Member 3 School

Psychology

Committee Member 4

kenji noguchi

Committee Member 4 School

Psychology

Abstract

Recently, the application of retractions toward scientifically sound, but morally or politically sensitive (deemed Information Hazards), research has gained traction, both as a real-life phenomenon and topic of scientific investigation. Although researchers have largely reported opposition to retractions for reasons that fall outside of the veracity of the manuscript’s results, a notable segment nonetheless shows elevated levels of support for these retractions. Namely, such retractions are more appealing to younger scientists, women, and those on the political left. Because retraction itself often comes with a scientific penalty, it is important to understand why some individuals are more receptive to unconventional reasons for scientific retraction. I measured participants’ scientific experience and levels of dispositional empathy as potential mediators of the relationship between age, gender and political orientation with respect to support for unconventional scientific retractions. I replicated previous findings that researchers showed very low support for Information Hazard-based retraction and younger, female, and more liberal researchers showed elevated support. Affective Empathy did not mediate political orientations relationship with Information Hazard-based retractions. Real Life Experiences with retractions also did not mediate Ages relationship with Information Hazards. However, exploratory mediations showed Average Empathy and Experiences with retractions may still play a mediating role between gender’s relationship with Information Hazard-based retractions. Overall, the current study replicated past findings and provided evidence that Empathy and Experiences with retractions may partially mediate elevated support for Information Hazard-based retractions.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6433-2704

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Available for download on Monday, May 01, 2028

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