SOCI 211 Chapter 10: Reading Chapter 10
24 Jan 2019
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Document Summary
Social research focuses on systematically trying to connect observed concrete patterns with abstract interpretations. In 1986 there was a nuclear accident in chernobyl, scientists were sent to see the risks to the community of radioactive waste. They followed traditional sampling and measurement techniques and their told residents there was little to worry about and that the effects would go away shortly. Contamination readings a few months later were still high but scientists said it would go away, but it did not. If they had consulted sheep farmers who have knowledge of the local soil composition they would have come to a different conclusion. One of the key strengths of field research is the comprehensiveness of perspective research. By going directly to the social phenomenon under study and observing it as completely as possible researchers can develop a deeper and fuller understanding of it.
