Sociology 2206A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Scientific Method, Focus Group, Grounded Theory
2 Aug 2012
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Chapter 1- doing social research 12/2/2011 3:02:00 pm. Social research is a process in which people combine a set of principles, outlooks, and ideas (i. e. methodology) with a collection of specific practices, techniques, and strategies (i. e. a method of inquiry) to produce knowledge. When you accept something as true because someone in a position of authority says it is true or because it is in an authoritative publication, you are relying on authority as a basis for knowledge. Limitations to relying on authority: easy to overestimate the expertise of other people. Authorities may not agree, and all authorities may not be equally dependable. Authorities may speak on fields they know little about, or they may be plain wrong. Also, using the halo effect, expertise in one area may spill over illegitimately to be authority in a totally different area. Additional issue is the misuse of authority.
