The Ivory Tower of Babel: Why the Social Sciences Are Failing to Live Up to Their Promises

Sound Bite

Mainstream social science has come under fierce criticism in recent decades for failing to have more impact on public policy. Critics say the social sciences are incapable of generating knowledge that can solve social problems. Others contend that partisan politics and university administrations are the problem. Politicians are more concerned about special interests than scientific research, and administrators care more about scholarly publications than solving social problems. Are the social sciences failing to live up to their promises? Have they outlived their usefulness? Have they become an Ivory Tower of Babel?

About the Book

This book examines the history and philosophy of the social sciences and theoretical and empirical research on the impact of social science. Suggestions are offered at the end for enhancing the impact of the social sciences.

The primary goal of anthropologists, communication scholars, economists, political scientists, sociologists and social psychologists has been to solve problems of social integration, but the jargon they use and their tendency to argue over details rather than solve problems undermine the whole field.

Like the Babylonians, who built the infamous Tower of Babel, social scientists for the past two centuries have been building a tower of sorts, only this time it's composed of knowledge rather than bricks.

The Babylonian tower was designed in part to unite people to one geographical area. Similarly, social scientists see their tower of knowledge as a means for solving social problems such as poverty, crime, drug abuse, inequality, unemployment, abuse of power that alienate people and groups from modern society.

The Babylonians failed because of divine intervention, according to the Bible. The social scientists aren't finished building their tower. But, according to critics, the results so far look less like a tower of knowledge for solving social problems than an Ivory Tower of Babel one in which social scientists routinely dispute each other's theories and data, and even uncontested or well-supported findings rarely influence public policy. Disputes over the nature of truth and knowledge are so commonplace in the social sciences that many scholars believe a social science which uses methods from the natural sciences is incapable of generating knowledge that can solve social problems.

A number of scientific articles and books have been written about the impact (or lack thereof) of the social sciences on public policy, but none has been written specifically to appeal to both academics and a broader market composed of the general public and students in both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. The author takes the reader on a journey inside one of the best kept secrets in higher education that much, if not most, of the research conducted in the social sciences has very little impact on public policy or on solving social problems. Are taxpayers getting their money's worth?

Introduction

In The Ivory Tower of Babel: Why the Social Sciences Are Failing to Live Up to Their Promises, David Demers explores the persistent challenges and shortcomings faced by the social sciences in influencing public policy and social change. Drawing on decades of experience as a media sociologist and scholar, Demers reviews the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the discipline, tracing the ongoing debate between positivist and humanist approaches. With a keen eye, he reveals how positivism, once under fierce attack for its limitations, has evolved into a more nuanced "neoteric positivism" that embraces probabilistic generalizations and a reconciliation with humanistic values.

This book does not shy away from the thorny issues that have hindered social science research from achieving the impact it promises. From the entrenched academic cultures that prioritize publication and tenure over real-world relevance, to the challenges of communicating complex findings to broader audiences, Demers provides a balanced critique that is both rigorous and accessible. He also examines the political economy of knowledge production, showing how ideology, power, and institutional interests shape what research gets funded, published, and ultimately used in policymaking.

Beyond diagnosis, The Ivory Tower of Babel offers constructive recommendations to bridge the gap between social science and society. Demers advocates for applied research, interdisciplinary collaboration, better engagement with media and policymakers, and clearer, jargon-free communication. His insights are enriched by case studies from criminology, media violence research, and policy studies, making this work a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the complex relationship between knowledge and social progress.