Questions and Answers
What is Social Research?
Which of the following is NOT one of the Six Sources of Knowledge?
What are alternatives to social research?
Authority, tradition, common sense, media myths, personal experience.
What does it mean to rely on authority as a source of knowledge?
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Which limitation is associated with relying on authority?
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What is tradition in terms of knowledge?
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Define common sense.
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What are media myths?
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What is personal experience as a source of knowledge?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the four errors of personal experience?
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What is overgeneralization?
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Define selective observation.
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What is premature closure?
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Explain the halo effect.
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Describe scientific knowledge.
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What is data?
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Define empirical evidence.
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What is the scientific community?
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Describe the scientific method.
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What is a blind review?
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Study Notes
Social Research
- Combines principles, ideas, and specific practices to generate knowledge.
- Methodology includes techniques and strategies inherent in the research process.
The Six Sources of Knowledge
- Authority: Acceptance based on official validation.
- Tradition: Knowledge passed through generations.
- Common Sense: Understandings accepted as obvious or self-evident.
- Media Myths: Information often skewed for entertainment rather than accuracy.
- Personal Experience: Knowledge gained through direct involvement.
- Scientific: Knowledge acquired through structured investigation and empirical data.
Alternatives to Social Research
- Non-scientific sources include authority, tradition, common sense, media myths, and personal experience.
Authority
- Truth accepted based on the statements from individuals in power.
Limitations of Relying on Authority
- Expertise may be overstated; authorities can be wrong or biased.
- Disagreements among authorities question the validity of their knowledge.
- Misleading authority can pose risks, particularly in democratic societies.
Traditions
- A subset of authority based on historical acceptance.
- Potential for distortion over time, moving from truth to prejudice.
Common Sense
- Relies on general perceptions but can foster logical fallacies that cloud reasoning.
Media Myths
- Entertainment-centric narratives shape public perception and can misrepresent reality.
- Visual imagery heavily influences how information is processed and understood.
Personal Experience
- Personal observations that can mislead due to cognitive biases or distortions.
Errors of Personal Experience
- Overgeneralization: Drawing broad conclusions from limited evidence.
- Selective Observation: Recognizing only certain events or people that affirm existing beliefs.
- Premature Closure: Ceasing inquiry upon reaching a conclusion too quickly.
- Halo Effect: Allowing a positive perception from one area to influence judgment in others.
Scientific Knowledge
- Involves data collection to validate or refute theories, utilizing empirical methods.
Data
- Information gathered systematically; can be qualitative (descriptive) or quantitative (numerical).
Empirical Evidence
- Sensory-based observations, gathered through direct or indirect experience.
The Scientific Community
- A collective of individuals adhering to established rules and practices that govern scientific inquiry across all domains of science.
Scientific Method
- A structured approach to generating new knowledge leveraging scientific techniques and principles.
Blind Review
- A peer review process that ensures impartiality; reviewers remain unaware of the authors' identities, promoting unbiased evaluation of research merit.
Steps in the Research Process
- Details not provided; typically involves defining a problem, literature review, methodology design, data collection, and analysis.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Prepare for your SOC221 midterm with these flashcards covering key concepts from chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Each card includes important terms and definitions to enhance your understanding of social research and sources of knowledge. Ideal for quick review and memorization before the exam.
