Module 2 Worksheet Assignment – The Scientific Method/Power and Ideology | Assignments Contemporary History

Module 2 Worksheet Assignment – The Scientific Method/Power and Ideology

This file is the intellectual property of Dr. Patricia Knol. It is protected by copyright law and

may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed.

Directions: Type the answer to the questions in the spaces provided. Use correct grammar and

spelling. Worksheets that contain repeated basic spelling or grammar errors may be marked

down by up to 5 points. The only source that should be used when filling out this worksheet

is your textbook – NOT the internet, another textbook, or any other source. The text

should always be the basis of your answer unless the question specifically asks for your own

experience or opinion. Any plagiarism of any kind in any answer will result in a score of 0 on

the entire assignment.

Chapter 2

1. What do the social sciences seek to do?

The social sciences seek to develop theories to explain why human beings behave as they do.

Therefore, social sciences seek to find relationships that explain human behavior.

2. When trying to explain why things happen, it is good to keep in mind the phrase “correlation

is not causation.” What does that mean according to the text?

Correlation which refers to two events occurring together in a statistically significant

relationship does not equal causation (that one event necessarily caused the other to occur).

Rather, both events could be caused by a third, as yet unidentified, characteristic or event.

3. The scientific method is empirical, not normative. What does that mean?

The scientific method deals with what is, rather than what should be. It cannot test the validity

of values, norms, or feelings, except insofar as it can test for their existence in a society, group,

or individual.

The social sciences can explain many aspects of human behavior but cannot tell human beings

how they ought to behave.

4. Are the social sciences completely empirical? Why or why not?

Social sciences do not rely only on empirical methods like surveys and experiments because

human behavior and society are too complex. Some social scientists concentrate on theory

building rather than on empirical research; they try to develop sweeping social theories to

explain all, or a large part, of human behavior.

5. What kind of attitude does the scientific method involve? What does that mean should guide

the researcher (what should the researcher commit to)?

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Module 2 Worksheet Assignment – The Scientific Method/Power and Ideology This file is the intellectual property of Dr. Patricia Knol. It is protected by copyright law and may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed. Directions: Type the answer to the questions in the spaces provided. Use correct grammar and spelling. Worksheets that contain repeated basic spelling or grammar errors may be marked down by up to 5 points. The only source that should be used when filling out this worksheet is your textbook – NOT the internet, another textbook, or any other source. The text should always be the basis of your answer unless the question specifically asks for your own experience or opinion. Any plagiarism of any kind in any answer will result in a score of 0 on the entire assignment. Chapter 2

What do the social sciences seek to do? The social sciences seek to develop theories to explain why human beings behave as they do. Therefore, social sciences seek to find relationships that explain human behavior.
When trying to explain why things happen, it is good to keep in mind the phrase “correlation is not causation.” What does that mean according to the text? Correlation which refers to two events occurring together in a statistically significant relationship does not equal causation (that one event necessarily caused the other to occur). Rather, both events could be caused by a third, as yet unidentified, characteristic or event.
The scientific method is empirical, not normative. What does that mean? The scientific method deals with what is, rather than what should be. It cannot test the validity of values, norms, or feelings, except insofar as it can test for their existence in a society, group, or individual. The social sciences can explain many aspects of human behavior but cannot tell human beings how they ought to behave.
Are the social sciences completely empirical? Why or why not? Social sciences do not rely only on empirical methods like surveys and experiments because human behavior and society are too complex. Some social scientists concentrate on theory building rather than on empirical research; they try to develop sweeping social theories to explain all, or a large part, of human behavior.
What kind of attitude does the scientific method involve? What does that mean should guide the researcher (what should the researcher commit to)?

Scientific method is preceded by doubt and skepticism about theories until they have been scientifically tested. It therefore behooves researchers to commit to keep bias out of their work, to collect and record all relevant facts, and to interpret them rationally regardless of one`s feelings. For the social scientist, it is the determination to test explanations of human behavior by careful observations of real-world experiences. It is a recognition that any explanation is tentative and may be modified or disproved by careful investigation

What example can you think of that a researcher might do or think that would violate this? Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias is when a researcher only looks for or interprets data that agrees with their beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence. For example, in political research, a biased researcher might favor evidence that supports their own views, making their work less objective and trustworthy. This happens when personal biases cloud the researcher's judgment, harming the quality and reliability of their research.
Which kind of statement is more appropriate in the social sciences – a universal statement or a probabilistic statement? Why? Probabilistic statement would be more appropriate compared to universal statement. While a universal statement applies to every circumstance which will be difficult to examine and seldom true in social sciences, probabilistic statement applies to some proportion of circumstances hence more accurate and without eliminating possibility of the other outcome.
Is it appropriate or not appropriate for a social scientist to reason from one or two observed cases? Why or why not? Drawing conclusions from just one or two observed cases is generally not a good idea for social scientists. Researchers know that a single case is not sufficient to make generalizations about other cases. A single case study is more useful for generating hypotheses to be explored later in comparative studies involving larger numbers of cases. However, some case studies involve limited comparisons, as when two, three, or four cases are studied simultaneously. In your own words, explain one of the problems in applying the classic research design to the social sciences that the text gives.
One problem when using the classic research design in social sciences is controlling variables. It's hard to control everything that affects people's behavior. e.g. things like feelings, culture, and history can't be easily controlled. So, it's tough to say that one thing causes another without considering all these factors.

ii. Ideologies justify and give legitimacy to structures of power in the society. Ideology may justify status quo or it may provide rationale for change or even allow for a revolution

iii. Ideologies set standards for right or wrong in the society. Ideologies therefore act as a moral compass in guiding the normative practices in the society.

iv. Ideologies provide motivation for social and political actions. They give their supporters a purpose to act to improve world situations. Ideologies can even “transform” individuals to a particular social or political movement and stimulate them to action. After reading the chapter, and the “Focus” segment on p. 54, answer the three questions below.

Are most of your views liberal or conservative? Give examples – either from page 54 or others, whatever is the most salient to you. According to libertarianism, government should take a “hands-off” approach in most matters on the other hand Conservatives believe that government should play a more limited role in people’s everyday lives. Personally I tend to align more with Liberal ideologies I strongly support right to private ownership of property. I also support social welfare program by the government such as shelter, feeding and Obama care programs.
Are there differences between the ideology of your views on economic policy and social policy? (In other words, are you liberal in some economic policies but conservative in some social policies?) If so, what are they? I largely go with liberal ideology especially on social policy like mentioned above including supporting government provision of social welfare programs like Obamacare health program. However, I support some economic policies that are conservative in nature e.g. rewards for initiative, skill, risk taking, and hard work, in contrast to government-imposed “leveling” of income. Therefore, I have a blend of liberal and conservative views depending on the specific policy or issue under consideration.

In examining these various issue positions and thinking about your own views, how do you think you have formulated your views? How influential has your family been in shaping your views? School? The media? Honestly speaking looks like all the three i.e. family, school and media have played a role in one way or another to shape my world view and ideologies; Growing up, I was exposed to the beliefs, values, and political perspectives of my family members. Their influence has helped form the foundation of my own opinions on various topics, including politics, social issues, and ethics. School has played a significant role in shaping my views and ideologies. It exposed me to diverse ideas, critical thinking skills, and various perspectives on social, political, and ethical issues. Education has encouraged me to question and evaluate different viewpoints, fostering a more informed and clear understanding of the world. Media has influenced my views and ideologies by providing information, perspectives, and narratives on various topics. Exposure to different news outlets, social media, and content sources has exposed me to a range of opinions and viewpoints.
Think of a question you believe would be a good addition to this worksheet. It cannot be a yes/no or one-word answer question. It cannot resemble any question already on this worksheet. It must be related in some way to the concept of power. Why did you choose the question you did? (2 points) Question - "What historical examples illustrate the manipulation of ideology by political leaders to consolidate power, and what lessons can be drawn from these instances for contemporary society?" This question prompts an examination of historical events where political leaders strategically used ideology to enhance their power. Examples might include totalitarian regimes or revolutions driven by ideological shifts. Analyzing these instances can provide valuable insights into the dynamics of power and ideology. By studying history, we can identify patterns and lessons that inform our understanding of contemporary political and social dynamics, helping us make more informed decisions and avoid repeating past mistakes. This question encourages critical thinking about the role of ideology in politics and its impact on society across different time periods.
The concepts in this worksheet may seem very formal, but they aren't necessarily. Think about what you talk about to your friends, family, professional, neighbors, classmates, etc. What kind of things do you talk about that might fall under the heading of "ideology" or "salient issue?" Give two examples. The answer to this question should be at least two paragraphs of at least 4 sentences long. 5 points I often engage in discussions with friends, family, and classmates about topics that relate to ideology and salient issues. These conversations can be informal yet insightful.

Module 2 Worksheet Assignment – The Scientific Method/Power and Ideology, Assignments of Contemporary History

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