Transcript Science, Sociology, and Common Sense

Science, Sociology, and
Common Sense
Ideas from Paul Lazarsfeld
Public Opinion Quarterly
(1949)
• The American Soldier
(1949) was a summary
of an extensive program
of surveys of soldiers
during World War II
– Many social scientists
were involved
• Lazarsfeld’s review:
– Considers criticisms
– Interprets findings
– Concludes that surveys
have great value
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SOCY1000 Backman
Common Sense Is a
Lousy Guide To Truth
Lazarsfeld’s Review of The
American Soldier
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Lazarsfeld’s Review of Other
People’s Criticisms of The
American Soldier
– Surveys unnecessary:
only find what
people with common
sense already know
• Smaller gripes
– Can’t do history
– Other stuff
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SOCY1000 Backman
Common Sense Is a
Lousy Guide To Truth
• Big criticism
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Lazarsfeld’s Rejoinder to
Criticisms
• Empirical – based on
actual observation of
the world
• Science makes
systematic
observations
2. Surveys are tools for
empirical observation
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Common Sense Is a
Lousy Guide To Truth
• Main response
1. Science requires
empirical observation
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Common Sense and
American Soldier Questions
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Lousy Guide To Truth
• Question topics
1. Tropical climate
2. Rigors of Army life
3. Mental health
4. Desire to come home
5. Negro vs white
ambition: non-coms
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• Common sense:
1. Tropical climate Southerners
2. Rigors of Army life –
rural background
3. Mental health – high IQ
sicker
4. Desire to come home –
before surrender higher
5. Non-com ambition –
whites more
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Common Sense Is a
Lousy Guide To Truth
Common Sense and
American Soldier “Findings”
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OOPS
- Of course,
common sense
could explain the
other results, too
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SOCY1000 Backman
Common Sense Is a
Lousy Guide To Truth
All those
“findings” were
the opposite of
what was found!
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CONCLUSIONS
• Common sense is a poor
guide to truth
• Science requires systematic
empirical observation
–Empirical – based on
actual observation of
the world
– Surveys are a form of systematic
empirical observation (when
properly done)
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Backman Addenda to
Lazarsfeld
• Much of what people
think is true is false
• Will try to emphasize
non-obvious elements in
social life
– If something in text
seems contrary to what
you would expect, it has
a high chance of being
on exams
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Lousy Guide To Truth
– Fortunately, we’re right
often enough to get by
– Often can get by being
wrong
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Debunking
• Sociology sometimes called the
Debunking Science
– Exposes the bunk (nonsense) in
social beliefs
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Science Changes
• Science is not common sense, but
it is not always right
– Marx on revolution
– Gas giants (planets) and rings
– European sociologists and cults
• Society changes
– What used to be true may not still
be
• Some of what I say ain’t so
– Just don’t know which
• Science is self-correcting
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Jupiter
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Uranus and Neptune
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Ethics
• Sociologists do research on
people
• Groups of people cannot be
treated like beakers of chemicals
• Attempts to manipulate people
often no-nos
– E.g., how to change people’s
religion
• Observational research can make
people look foolish or criminal
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Ethics and Protections for
Human Subjects
• University research plans must go
through Human Subjects review
– Could be fox guarding henhouse, but
mostly not in my experience
• Of course, the Tuskegee study went on
for years in front of everyone
• Informed consent
– Tricky because information may change
behavior
• Participants in research must be able
to opt out
• Must stop if people being hurt
• Professional association codes of
ethics
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