SOC221H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Scientific Method, Data Analysis, Content Analysis
Document Summary
Soc221 s1 l2 the relationship between knowledge and empirical evidence. We are going to try to explain the usefulness of the methods we use. These methods are not arbitrary but techniques developed over decades because they"re considered most successful. Science is a way of producing knowledge. Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method, as well as to organize the body of knowledge gained through such research. Science is not religion, philosophy or tradition. Sociology is called a social science so they are using some elements of scientific method to answer social questions. Social science and natural science are sometimes different and similar to one another. We have questions we pose and we want to know the answer to those questions. Methods provide a transparent way of collecting information and analyzing this information to consider it good information. Methods are good for clarifications from the information given from unreliable sources.
