Speech: The Achilles' Heel of Social Science Methodology in Iran: The Illusion of Development Through Biased Statistics

Ladies and gentlemen, Scientific methodology is the backbone of credible knowledge production in the social sciences. In Iran, however, it remains an Achilles’ heel. Today, I will discuss this critical challenge, focusing on how biased statistics create an illusion of development, and propose solutions to overcome this crisis. ## The Achilles’ Heel of Social Science Methodology in Iran Social sciences in Iran face numerous challenges: overreliance on imported models, insufficient research infrastructure, and a deference-driven culture that stifles critical inquiry. Instead of questioning imported frameworks, we often adopt methodologies that fail to capture the complexities of Iranian society.