Academia and research thrive on curiosity, debate, and constructive skepticism. But too often, conversations are cut short by dismissive, belittling, or unproductive phrases. Some of these phrases create a hostile environment that discourages engagement, while others completely halt intellectual progress.
If you want to be part of a productive research culture—whether in academia, industry, or independent inquiry—it’s important to recognize these conversation-stoppers and learn better ways to frame discussions.
These phrases can make people afraid to speak up, particularly those who don’t like confrontation or feel insecure about their contributions. When researchers hear dismissive statements, they may begin to second-guess their ideas, withdraw from discussions, or avoid sharing altogether. This is especially true for early-career academics, students, and those from underrepresented backgrounds who may already feel out of place.
When I sense that a conversation is heading in this direction, I most often choose to disengage. People who are unwilling to learn, who shut down, or who dig in their heels are not open to real discussion. It is not worth your time to engage. If someone is not willing to listen or grow, why waste energy trying to convince them? Instead, it’s often better to move on, focus on conversations where curiosity thrives, and engage with those who are open to genuine intellectual exchange.
Here this post on being a joyful researcher. It’s important to choose joy over everything else!
A culture that prioritizes intellectual curiosity over gatekeeping fosters not only better science but also a more inclusive and supportive academic environment. Here, we identify 25 phrases that shut down research and offer alternatives that encourage exploration and meaningful dialogue.
By the way, almost all of these have happened to me, and as someone who does not confrontation, I have been shut down. It frustrates me that I do, but that is who I am.
Phrases That Kill Scientific Inquiry
1. “Show me the research.”
Instead: “This is a wonderful idea. Can you help me here? Can we work this out together. I’d love to explore this with you.”
2. “Correlation doesn’t equal causation.”
Instead: “Weird. What factors might explain this correlation? What can we play with here to generate these finding?”
3. “That’s just anecdotal.”
Instead: “Personal experiences can highlight cool gaps in our understanding. What do you think lead to what you found? How might we study this further?”
4. “This debate is already settled. That is old research.”
Instead: “I think what you are working on is promising. What new perspectives or emerging data could add to this discussion? There is so much to add to this research. ;-)”
5. “You’re just being emotional.”
Instead: “I see this issue is important to you. Let’s take a pause or walk, and talk about why that makes you engage with this issue. What personal or social factors influence how we see it?”
By the way, as a social scientist, this will happen a lot with many of the issues we cover.
6. “That’s just your opinion.”
Instead: “I love this viewpoint. Let’s talk about this perspective. How did we get to this moment where you thought like that? Did something happen in the past that allowed you to see it that way? Let’s discuss.”
7. “If that were true, it would already be published.”
Instead: “Many great ideas don’t get published for many reasons. Let’s talk about why this might not be published just yet. Are there barriers to publishing research on this? How might we test this idea? Is this research idea too sensitive? Does it make people uncomfortable? How can we explore this?”
By the way–some of the most promising ideas are often overlooked as too obvious. Please explore them!
8. “We’ve always done it this way.”
Instead: “You are right. This is not the best way to do it. What do you think? Is there a better or more efficient way to approach this? Let’s try to build on what we have done in the past. What makes us feel the older way can be improved?”
9. “That idea will never work.”
Instead: “I love it!!! Crazy ideas are wonderful! Let’s work with them. What obstacles would need to be overcome for this to work? What needs to happen to get to where we can have that idea work? “
10. “That’s not how things are done.”
Instead: “Great point. Have there been successful alternatives in similar fields? Can we find out where the flaws are with the current approach. Let’s talk and share.”
11. “You don’t have the right credentials. (Or, you are not from the right school).”
Instead: “Legitimacy does matter. But, let’s work with the idea that people who will accept your idea will be more knowledgeable than you. You have to convince those that are most skeptical, so we need arguments to navigate their scepticism of you. Let’s build a case that your new approach is awesome. You do belong here. Your ideas matter.
Let’s build a table together.”
12. “That field isn’t serious science.”
Instead: “Love it! Those are quirky ideas, but quirky ideas often result in the most novel breakthroughs. What can this field contribute to our broader understanding of the topic? Let’s talk about what is happening here.
Why would we believe and not believe in those ideas?”
13. “You just don’t understand.”
Instead: “You are right. I don’t understand. I don’t have the same experiences as you. I will never be able to fully understand.
However, let’s talk. Why does this feel like it is too difficult to talk about. What part do you disagree with or find unclear? How does that make you feel?”
14. “It’s too complex to explain.”
Instead: “Where should we begin here? Can we break this down into smaller concepts to discuss? Let’s build the simplest model possible. We always want to work with toy models. What is the simplest model that explains even the smallest portion of it? Can we simplify and generalize?”
15. “That’s not a real problem.”
Instead: “This is an important problem. I can see why you feel that way. Let’s break that down a bit more. Who is affected by this, and how might we study its impact? Why do you think that problem is important? It’s frustrating to explain it, but let’s start coming up with different factors that explain why it’s important.”
16. “There’s no funding for that.”
Instead: “We can also craft an argument for funding. We just need to find the issue that catches with the audience. How could we make the case for funding this research? Let’s go broader, or more specific thinking like funder of this research. What do they like?”
17. “You’re overthinking it.”
Instead: “Exploring different angles is valuable. What key insights stand out? How can we make what you are saying simpler. I can understand your frustration. I feel frustrated all the time with researcher. Let’s try to simplify this to a few core arguments.”
18. “That’s outside the scope of our work.”
Instead: “How does this connect to our main research questions? Let’s create some boundary conditions. Let’s keep coming back to the dependent variable.”
19. “That’s been disproven.”
Instead: “Let’s create a table of the research on this topic. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of this research. Is there a revised interpretation? There is sooo much to explore!”
20. “It’s just a theory.”
Instead: “Theories are super important. They help us understand phenomena. What evidence supports or refutes this one? Let’s make a list of the assumptions of this theory. Even the silly ones. Every assumption is useful.”
21. “That contradicts established knowledge.”
Instead: “Love it! This is such an important idea. Well done! Does this new perspective add nuance to what we already know? Can we create a table of the pros and cons of research in this area?”
22. “No one else is researching that.”
Instead: “The best ideas often emerge from new beginnings. Love it! Let’s explore. I wonder if there is more to learn here? Maybe this is an underexplored area. What potential does it have? Why might have someone have avoided this idea before?”
23. “You need to be more realistic.”
Instead: “Keep that idea! You will use it to drive a research program, not just a research project. What practical steps could make this idea more feasible? Let’s unpack the various steps to get to that idea. Keep working and keep exploring!”
24. “You need more data before discussing this.”
Instead: “Narratives and anecdotal evidence are very helpful. Can we collect a bit of data here. I would be happy to start collecting and pass it along to you. Preliminary insights are valuable. How can we refine our approach?”
25. “That’s impossible.”
Instead: “Impossible ideas are always the best ideas! Let’s start with this and work backwards. What has been attempted before, and what can we learn from it? This is sooo exciting! Thank you for pointing out these ideas.”
Creating a Research Environment That Encourages Inquiry
It’s easy to dismiss ideas, shut down discussions, or let skepticism turn into cynicism. But great discoveries come from open, constructive dialogue. By replacing conversation-stopping phrases with encouraging, thoughtful questions, we create an environment where people feel safe to explore, challenge, and innovate.
In research, the best breakthroughs often come from those willing to ask, “What if?” and “How might we?” rather than those who insist “It can’t be done.”
Encourage curiosity. Encourage dreaming!
Make room for diverse perspectives. Build people up instead of shutting them down.
Creating an atmosphere of joy in research isn’t just about eliminating negativity—it’s about fostering positive excitement. When people feel supported, they are more willing to take intellectual risks, explore unconventional ideas, and push the boundaries of knowledge. A positive research culture is one that celebrates progress, no matter how small, and encourages people to enjoy the process rather than just focusing on the outcome.
The best science doesn’t just come from those who are the smartest—it comes from those who feel empowered to ask bold questions, pursue ambitious ideas, and embrace the collaborative spirit of discovery. When we make research a joyful pursuit, we ensure that it remains a space of endless curiosity and innovation.
Build and encourage!!!!