Tasty Research: A digest of interesting academic research

September 21, 2006 10:22 PM

Tasty Research: A digest of interesting academic research Read about interesting topics of research (mostly sociology). Science is fun! [via mefi projects]
posted by onalark (8 comments total)

Sociology may be fun, but is it science?
posted by metaplectic at 12:12 AM on September 22, 2006

not really
posted by popkinson at 12:44 AM on September 22, 2006

Sociology can be science. It depends on the theoretical orientation of the sociologist. You may think that sociology isn't science because your entire college football team majored in sociology. But just because sociology seems to serve the purpose of providing easy majors for dumb kids at most schools doesn't diminish the fact that great sociologists are studying cool things using rigorous scientific standards even as I type.
posted by Crotalus at 1:35 AM on September 22, 2006

I don't think it's a science.
posted by Science! at 6:21 AM on September 22, 2006

Well, a 'soft science' at best.
posted by Science! at 6:24 AM on September 22, 2006

Hmm... it is tasty.

And "soft science" is not intrinsically inferior in scientific quality or value.
posted by zennie at 7:27 AM on September 22, 2006

He thinks "evolutionary psychology" is a legitimate science?

I hope I don't wake up tomorrow to find this guy feeling at the bumps on my head.
posted by nasreddin at 8:21 AM on September 22, 2006

I voted for it, if only because I like it that people want to talk about research. I don't find the analysis of cutting in line nor the one about why beautiful people are naturally more intelligent really all that compelling.

My knee-jerk reaction is that most sociology research is crap, and having read the most recent postings, my opinion hasn't changed, but hey...it's a step up from talking about what was on TV last night.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2006