Assess The Difference Between Common Sense And Sociological Research

707 Words3 Pages

The basic obvious difference between sociology and common sense is the scientific actuality and academic research and evidence that Sociology is supported by. Sociology is the study of groups within societies and while there are various aspects of sociology that may be considered self-evident to assume that sociology on the whole is just common sense is nothing short of dismissive of the massive volumes of research and academia that is consistently carried out and the years of work that has got the field of sociology this far. Common sense may say that in certain low-income areas of Glasgow in 2016 children in early high school stages show that lateness and truancy between the ages of 12-16 is at a high because children in this catchment area …show more content…

Wright Mills is one of the most prolific sociologists who spoke widely about the Social Imagination, penning a book of the same name. The Social Imagination looks in detail about the ability to look at situations from varying perspectives and the ability to differentiate between an individual problems (person troubles) and that of a society (public issues). (C.W. Mills, The Social Imagination) Sociology is a science, which uses critical and analytical thinking alongside objectivity, which results in proven theories, and is studied as part of an academic field, at the end of which one can gain substantial qualifications. Common sense, on the other hand, is not an academic subject, the dictionary definition of common sense is “good sense and sound judgement in practical matters.” it is the human ability to understand and judge things that are viewed as being commonplace to most people. This however is not always accurate, due mostly to the lack of common sense in many and the variety of understanding people will have dependant on their own, personal experiences of an occurrence. Common sense is based on an individual’s personal opinion, and is therefore subjective and can’t possible acknowledge bias the way Sociology, as a science, does while challenging assumptions that can be made through common sense apparently gained in everyday …show more content…

One type of that would generate quantitative data would be a closed-question, questionnaire. This type of primary research presents a numerical quantity, amount and range which can be examined and easily form statistics. Quantitative research, such as closed-question, questionnaires which only allow for a certain variety of answers and ways that the questions can be answered and is primarily concerned with finding evidence to support or contradict a hypothesis, and further to this a