[peakai]

It seems llike the proper response to this controversy would be to use some of their cash to fund a internal group to research and replicate some of the studies mentioned in the original google memo, to refute and possibly further the understanding for some kind of practical knowledge gain, instead of A) firing the employee bringing up some concerns and b) holding meetings about why the issue needed to be a point of contention (doubling down) in the organization

[nilkn]

I don't think Google is capable of doing meaningful research on this, because I don't get the sense that they'd accept any results that don't refute the memo. Google would have a vested interest in the research having a pre-decided outcome.