The Case for Shades of GRAY

This chapter goes over the many studies that recognize that genre is a confounding variable but do not commit to either end of the black-white spectrum. Many statements such as “more frequently than not,” “sometimes,” “in general,” and “most of the time” are made by scholars to hedge their bets – to say that even if genre does not dominate authorship, it must be considered and should be controlled for. The family concept of genres along with which genres can be conflated in an attribution study is discussed. Many studies that fall into this gray area are explicated. Shlomo Argamon’s paper that shows that John Burrows’ Delta should not be used without controlling for genre is presented – along with other supporting studies. This chapter provides overwhelming evidence for the necessity of controlling for genre in every non-traditional authorship attribution study.