SOAN 2120 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Social Exchange Theory, Police Misconduct, Inductive Reasoning

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

Document Summary

Researchers link the operation of the social world (the theory) with what they observe when they examine it systematically (the data). First, social theories explain recurring patterns, not unique or one-time events. Second, social theories are explanations for aggregates, not particular individuals. Aggregates are collections of many individuals, cases, or other units. Third, social theories state a probability, chance, or tendency for events to occur, rather than state that one even must absolutely follow another. Many people confuse theory with a hunch. A type of counterfeit argument presented as if it were a theoretical explanation. Blame analysis begins by presenting an unfavourable event, such as a bank robbing, the fact that a group is systematically paid less in the labour force. It next identifies one or more responsible parties, then it provides selective evidence that shields certain parties or sources.