&gt; He&#x27;s not a social scientist, and I don&#x27;t think he&#x27;d appreciate an anthropologist evaluating the state of affairs in quantum computing research.<p>But, from things I have read elsewhere, there does seem to be a reasonably convincing body of evidence that there are systematic biases in social sciences. Some of this perhaps stems from discrimination (e.g., in hiring practices) based on political allegiance. Jonathan Haidt (a social scientist) has spoken out on this topic[0], including specifically on sociology[1]. While that issue likely affects academics in general, political leaning likely has a much smaller influence on one&#x27;s research in physics and chemistry, compared to one&#x27;s research in sociology. It&#x27;s true that Aaronson is not a social scientist, but I don&#x27;t think that means he is wrong.<p>[0] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;people.stern.nyu.edu&#x2F;jhaidt&#x2F;postpartisan.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;people.stern.nyu.edu&#x2F;jhaidt&#x2F;postpartisan.html</a><p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.mindingthecampus.org&#x2F;2016&#x2F;02&#x2F;a-conversation-with-jonathan-haidt&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.mindingthecampus.org&#x2F;2016&#x2F;02&#x2F;a-conversation-with-...</a>