Social science overcomes the reliance on tradition or unquestioning respect for authority by:
A) Using systematic procedures for selecting individuals to study that are representative for the groups to which we hope to generalize
B) Using explicit criteria for establishing causality
C) Requiring systematic measurement and sampling
D) Using empirical evidence
E) Answering questions from an ego-based commitment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Social science relies on empirical evidence, which means that findings and conclusions are based on data collected through research rather than on inherited beliefs or traditions. This helps to avoid relying on tradition or unquestioning respect for authority, as scientific evidence takes priority over these factors. Systematic procedures for selecting individuals to study that are representative for the groups to which we hope to generalize, explicit criteria for establishing causality, and systematic measurement and sampling are also important in social science research, but they do not directly address overcoming reliance on tradition or authority. Answering questions from an ego-based commitment is not a valid way to conduct social science research, as it can lead to biased or skewed results.

Social Science Overcomes the Reliance on Tradition or Unquestioning Respect