SOAN 2120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Comparative Historical Research, Scientific Method, Mass Media

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: David Walters

Document Summary

Ideology, faith and politics shape many government programs rather than solid research evidence. Good social research can help people make informed decisions. Research is a way of going about finding answers to questions. People conduct social research to learn something new about the social world; or to carefully documents guesses, hunches, or beliefs about it; or to refine their understanding of how the social world works. A researcher combines theories or ideas with fact in a careful, systematic way and uses creativity. Social research is a process that combines a set of principles, outlooks, and ideas (methodology) with a collection of specific practices, techniques, and strategies (a method of inquiry) to produce knowledge. Social research is a process of producing knowledge. Knowledge from the alternatives is often correct, but knowledge based on research is more likely to be true and with few errors. When you acquire knowledge from parents, teachers, experts as well as from books, television and other media.