SOAN 2120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Nomothetic, Verstehen, Cherry Picking

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

Document Summary

Social theories explain recurring patterns, not unique or one time events. Social theories are explanations for aggregates: collections of many individuals cases or other units. Social theories state a probability, chance or tendency for events to occur, rather than state that one event must absolutely follow another. Social theory: a system of interconnected abstractions or ideas that condense and organize knowledge about the social world. Almost all research involves theory, so the question isn"t whether you should use theory, it"s how you should use it. Blame analysis: a type of counterfeit argument presented as if it were a theoretical explanation. It substitutes attributing blame for a causal explanation that is backed by supporting empirical evidence: blame analysis assumes there is a party or source to which a fixed amount of responsibility can be attached. It gives an account instead of a logical explanation: presents an unfavourable situation, identifies a responsible party, then provides selective evidence that shields certain parties.