Science, Sociology, and
Common Sense
Ideas from Paul Lazarsfeld
Public Opinion Quarterly
(1949)

Lazarsfeld’s Review of The
American Soldier
• The American Soldier
(1949) was a summary of an extensive program of surveys of soldiers during World War II
– Many social scientists were involved
• Lazarsfeld’s review:
– Considers criticisms
– Interprets findings
– Concludes that surveys have great value
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Lazarsfeld’s Review of Other
People’s Criticisms of The
American Soldier
• Big criticism
– Surveys unnecessary: only find what people with common sense already know
• Smaller gripes
– Can’t do history
– Other stuff
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Lazarsfeld’s Rejoinder to
Criticisms
• Main response
1. Science requires
empirical observation
•
Empirical
– based on actual observation of the world
•
Science makes systematic observations
2. Surveys are tools for empirical observation
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Common Sense and
American Soldier Questions
• Question topics
1. Tropical climate
2. Rigors of Army life
3. Mental health
4. Desire to come home
5. Negro vs white ambition: non-coms
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Common Sense and
American Soldier “Findings”
• Common sense:
1. Tropical climate -
Southerners
2. Rigors of Army life – rural background
3. Mental health – high IQ sicker
4. Desire to come home – before surrender higher
5. Non-com ambition – whites more
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OOPS
All those
“findings” were the opposite of what was found!
- Of course, common sense could explain the other results, too
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CONCLUSIONS
• Common sense is a poor guide to truth
• Science requires systematic
empirical observation
– Empirical – based on actual observation of the world
– Surveys are a form of systematic empirical observation (when properly done)
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Backman Addenda to
Lazarsfeld
• Much of what people think is true is false
– Fortunately, we’re right often enough to get by
– Often can get by being wrong
• Will try to emphasize non-obvious elements in social life
– If something in text seems contrary to what you would expect, it has a high chance of being on exams
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Debunking
• Sociology sometimes called the
Debunking Science
– Exposes the bunk (nonsense) in social beliefs
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Science Changes
• Science is not common sense, but it is not always right
– Marx on revolution
– Gas giants (planets) and rings
– European sociologists and cults
• Society changes
– What used to be true may not still be
• Some of what I say ain’t so
– Just don’t know which
• Science is self-correcting
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Jupiter
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Uranus and Neptune
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Ethics
• Sociologists do research on people
• Groups of people cannot be treated like beakers of chemicals
• Attempts to manipulate people often no-nos
– E.g., how to change people’s religion
• Observational research can make people look foolish or criminal
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Ethics and Protections for
Human Subjects
• University research plans must go through Human Subjects review
– Could be fox guarding henhouse, but mostly not in my experience
• Of course, the Tuskegee study went on for years in front of everyone
• Informed consent
– Tricky because information may change behavior
• Participants in research must be able to opt out
• Must stop if people being hurt
• Professional association codes of ethics
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