This assignment is intended to assess your ability to:

• Analyze readings in sociology.
• Discuss the ethical ramifications of research.
• Define "good research" and a "good researcher."

Overview

The Module 2 readings assigned deal with some aspect of the research process: generalizability of findings, research ethics, and whether the knowledge gained is sufficient to justify a degree of harm to subjects, to name only a few of the issues raised. What do these readings show you about the following questions: What is a "good researcher," and what is "good research"?

The first reading by Best points out the flaws in statistics and the importance of recognizing their social construction. The second article by Lawrence and Sides continues the discussion of statistics with the topic of innumeracy (an incompetence and misunderstanding of numbers and their use), this article specifically addresses political innumeracy. The third article by Warell and Jacobsen discusses the changes in research that is carried out by internet research. What are the challenges that are faced in this particular setting and what kinds of regulations and guidelines are needed? The final article by Meyer is a review of a well-known controversial experiment carried out by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. It raises interesting sociological questions but also challenges us to think carefully about research ethics and professionalism.

Action Items

1. Complete the assigned readings from Practical Skeptic - Core Concepts, and view all of the multimedia and other materials for this module.
2. Answer the following questions related to the assigned readings (about one paragraph per reading):

• Reading 4 -More Damned Lies and Statistics (Preface, "People Count,"pp. ix-xviii)What does Best mean by the statement "all statistics are products of social activity; the process sociologists call social construction" (p. xiii)? What are the steps that need to be taken to limit bias in how statistics are understood and used in sociology and other disciplines?
• Reading 5 -The Consequences of Political InnumeracyWhat is meant by "political innumeracy"? What is the conclusion of the authors about the link between innumeracy and political attitudes? Do you think a more accurate understanding or greater "numeracy" would significantly impact people's attitudes towards an understanding of policy?
• Reading 6 - Internet research ethics and the policy gap for ethical practice in online research settingsThe use of the internet in social science research brings many new questions about how to maintain professional and ethical research. Describe the ethical gaps that are identified in this paper and discuss the efforts of stakeholders to bridge these gaps in new ethical policy.
• Reading 7 - If Hitler Asked you to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? ProbablyMilgram has been criticized for being unethical in his research. Why? How did he respond to these criticisms? Are you persuaded by his critics or by Milgram? Why?