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UG#2: Can social scientists produce reliable knowledge about the world,…
UG#2: Can social scientists produce reliable knowledge about the world, and if so, how? (CVA)
What does the analogy to gas molecules reveal about the possibility of making reliable claims about people in the human sciences?
That it is easier to make claims (what kinds of claims?) about many people than about individuals in the human sciences
Human scientists are often/usually looking for patterns, and patterns fall into this category of general claims
These claims, in order to be accepted, have to be supported (have to be testable and supported by evidence)
If you study humans in general, you notice patterns. These patterns seem to describe our behaviors pretty well, and they also allow us to make predictions at the general level (and maybe at the individual level too).
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Meaning and purpose
Sometimes people do things for no apparent reason, which might lead researchers to mistakenly ascribe some purpose/meaning to actions that isn't there.
Human "stuff" (behaviors, concepts, creations) are all imbued with meaning -- they all are saturated with meaning. They take place in a broader context that humans perceive as meaningful. Scientists have to try to account for that.