Building Trust Through Disagreement: A Model for More Credible Research
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 27
Cassandra Williamson
25 Jun 2025
In an environment of politicized and often dwindling government funding for research, particularly on controversial topics, the model of "adversarial collaboration" is gaining traction as a method to produce more robust and widely accepted findings. This approach directly addresses your interest in involving researchers with opposing viewpoints in the entire research process, from design to analysis.
The article from The Advocate, "When they silence our science: The LGBTQ+ research purge & why it matters," by Laura Sinko, PhD, MSHP, RN, today, highlights the real-world consequences of politically motivated funding cuts. The termination of grants for LGBTQ+ health research not only halts scientific progress but also silences the experiences of marginalized communities and discourages researchers from tackling sensitive but important questions. This underscores the need for alternative, non-government-funded research models.
Adversarial Collaboration: A Framework for Inclusive Research
Adversarial collaboration is a research design in which scholars with conflicting viewpoints work together to investigate a disputed issue. Popularized by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, this model requires opposing teams to agree on the research methodology, how data is collected and analyzed, and what evidence would be needed to change their respective positions. The goal is not for one side to "win," but to arrive at a shared understanding of the truth.
Key benefits of this approach include:
Increased Objectivity and Rigor: By involving critics in the study design, researchers can proactively address potential biases and methodological weaknesses. This leads to a more rigorous and intellectually honest process.
Greater Trust and Acceptance: As you noted, the results of adversarial collaborations are often more palatable and less prone to the "pushback" that typically accompanies studies on contentious topics. When opposing sides have agreed to the process beforehand, the findings are more difficult to dismiss.
Fostering Dialogue and Innovation: This model encourages productive discourse between intellectual rivals, forcing them to understand each other's perspectives and potentially leading to new insights that would not have emerged otherwise.
Several institutions and projects are now dedicated to promoting this model. The Adversarial Collaboration Project at the University of Pennsylvania, for instance, provides grants and support to researchers willing to engage in this type of work.
Participatory Research: A Broader Approach to Inclusion
While adversarial collaboration specifically involves researchers with opposing theories, the broader field of participatory research also offers a model for more inclusive science. In this approach, stakeholders—including community members, patients, and other non-academics with lived experience—are involved in the research process. This ensures that the research is relevant to the real-world concerns of the people it is meant to benefit.
Funding and Challenges
The move toward non-government-funded research is not without its challenges. As seen in the search results, projects on topics like Long COVID have had to rely on patient-led fundraising and non-profit grants to move forward. Securing funding for controversial research, in particular, can be a significant hurdle.
However, the increasing interest in models like adversarial collaboration and participatory research offers a promising path forward. By building coalitions of diverse stakeholders and funders and by designing studies that are inherently more transparent and resistant to bias, the scientific community can work to overcome the challenges of a polarized funding landscape and produce research that is both scientifically sound and socially credible.
The Path Forward
Join me each weekday at 6 PM Eastern or 3 PM Pacific as I explore and analyze the days news and opinions.
Midday with Cassandra Williamson
On weekdays, usually at 1 PM Eastern.
[The timing is flexible since, as the caregiver for my mom, brother, and sister, my schedule is influenced by their appointments, needs, and situation.]
Programming is available on Social Media.
Comments