Sociology 2206A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Causal Reasoning, Life Insurance, Dependent And Independent Variables
15 May 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Soc 2206 Chapter 1
An Intro to Inquiry
• Science is a method of inquiry, a way of learning and knowing things about the world
around us.
• Science us also a body of knowledge about reality as well as a set of systematic methods
for gathering this knowledge.
• Science offers an approach to both agreement reality, and experiential reality.
o Agreement reality – what we “know” as part and parcel of the culture we share
with those around us.
o Experiential reality – what we “know” from personal experience and discovery.
• A scientific assertion must have both logical and empirical support; must make sense
and be supported by actual observation.
o Logical – the criterion for assessing the validity of arguments.
o Empirical – the criterion requiring sensory experience as evidence.
• Science offers a special approach of methodology, which is a set of practices/techniques
used to collect, process and interpret information which aims to enhance out
understanding of reality.
Ordinary Human Inquiry
• Causal reasoning – a type of reasoning which recognizes that future circumstances are
rooted in or conditioned by present ones.
o Ex. we learn that the more education we have, the more money we will make in
the future.
• Probabilistic reasoning – a type of reasoning that argues and recognizes that effects
occur more often when the causes are present. (but not every time)
o Ex. students learn that studying hard produces good grades, but results are not
always good even with the high amount of studying.
• Clinical prediction – expert prediction relying on an understanding of the linkages
between causes and effects.
o Ex. diagnosis from a doctor (relies on their knowledge of links between cause-
effect to diagnose illness)
• Actuarial prediction – forecasting future events based on observed historical patterns.
o Ex. life insurance policies are set in place, although they may not know the exact
cause of someone’s future death.
Tradition
• The fact that we all inherit a culture made up of firmly accepted knowledge about the
workings of the world is considered “tradition”.
• Things that “everybody knows”.
Authority
• New knowledge appears everyday, and we are more likely to believe it if an individual
with authority presents it to us
Document Summary
An intro to inquiry: science is a method of inquiry, a way of learning and knowing things about the world. Tradition: the fact that we all inherit a culture made up of firmly accepted knowledge about the workings of the world is considered tradition , things that everybody knows . Authority: new knowledge appears everyday, and we are more likely to believe it if an individual with authority presents it to us, ex. medical researcher presents new medical information. Illogical reasoning: the exception proves the rule not true. Independent variable a variable believed to produce changes in a dependant variable: dependant variable a variable whose changes we are interested in explaining, systems set of concepts and their relationships. Induction a form of reasoning that moves from specific cases to general ones: deduction a form of reasoning that moves from the general principles to a specific case. Pure research investigations driven by curiosity and satisfied by understanding something previously known.
