LAW 4000 Lecture 1: Law on the books_lecture 1
Document Summary
Observational methods(vago and nelson researching in law and society): 2 types: utilizing human observers or mechanical observers(cameras, audio recorders etc. ) and those directly eliciting responses from questions. Both can be carried out in a lab and controlled situations or infield and natural settings. Action research: a way to integrate knowledge with actions. Pros: events are recorded almost as soon as they happen, information has a high chance of being accurate. Cons: area of observation can"t be too big, observers selective perception and selective memory can bias the results of the study. An observer cannot account for every single detail of the situation. In common law countries(ex. canada), judges base their decisions on case law, a body of opinion developed by judges over time in the course of deciding particular cases. Allows judges to take advantage of the accumulated wisdom of past generations. This minimizes arbitrariness and compensates for weakness and inexperience.
