Sociology Report: Evidence-Based Practices and Research Methods

This report analyzes the evolution of sociological research, emphasizing the shift towards evidence-based practices. It examines how the integration of empirical data, facilitated by advancements in data collection and analysis, has transformed the field from relying heavily on tacit knowledge to incorporating scientific methodologies. The report references Edward J. Mullen's work, highlighting the need for evidence-based literature to enhance the scientific rigor of sociological studies. It explores the influence of psychology, marketing, and consumer behavior on sociological research, advocating for a more quantitative approach to understanding social phenomena. The report also discusses the importance of identifying and quantifying problems in society to create more robust research, concluding that adopting evidence-based practices could lead to the next significant evolution in the field of sociology, mirroring the scientific advancements seen in psychology and other disciplines. The report emphasizes the need for researchers to move beyond assumptions and embrace empirical evidence, leveraging the tools of the big data era.

The depiction of evidence-based practices while writing a report for sociology

Introduction
The brief history of the evolution of sociology across the 20th century and 21st century clearly
states that during the previous century most of the researchers were dependent on tacit
knowledge heavily. Social practitioners of the 20th century were acting as a mere commenter of
the events, they were suggesting a few things to policy-making bodies, however, most of their
suggestions were based on hypothetical conditions (Oakley,2014).
Things have changed drastically after the arrival of big data facility in the 21st century; this
allowed the sociologist to conduct accurate and empirical surveys with the help of the internet
and other facilities. The outputs of these surveys and the practices done by social engineers
accumulated a pool of sociological wisdom which has its origin in some evidence-based
practices. Sociologist “Edward J Mullen” in his article “Evidence-based Knowledge in the
context of Social practice” emphasized upon the need of developing literature based upon these
‘evidence-based practices.” The current essay is an attempt to express the salient features of this
new framework suggested by him.
Evidence based practices can add a scientific touch to the findings and create a path
A brief assessment of the recommendations given by Mullen clearly indicates that Psychology as
science evolved because the practitioners started including empirical findings in the research
papers. It allowed them to narrow down the focus. A narrowed focus allowed this stream to come
up with some evidence-based practices and now it has won the status of being an inexact science
up to a great extent (Oakley,2012).

The assessment of Mullen also reflects the fact that forces behind the marketing of the products,
goods and political viewpoints are studying consumer behaviors in order to come up with best
approaches to lure them. A sociologist can also adopt the same practice. In the case of marketing
companies a commercial interest acts as the driving force (Mullin,2014). The development of
sociology as a stream of knowledge also demands this type of dedication. The inclusion of
evidence-based practices in the mainstream literature of the sociology can support this stream of
knowledge. Many research companies are now hiring specialized sociologists to conduct
consumer behavior surveys; this is a great sign for the stream of the psychology which is
certainly looking for commercial patronage (Bridges,2009).
Mullen also determines a connection with domains of knowledge along with the development of
the methods. According to him, the present development of the literature in the field of sociology
is reflecting more about the problems that our society is facing. Writers are rightfully raising the
issues that are of greater interest of the society. However, they are failing in identifying the parts
of the problems. This absence of a scientific approach is creating a gap in the knowledge for
future researchers because they are not able to quantify the problems and their proposed
solutions. Consumer behavior-based data collection can be used as a primary data; sociologist
can learn the methods of data collection at large scale from this practice (Biesta,2012).
The inclusion of the culture of writing evidence-based practices in the literature of sociology has
this potential to bring in order in the thought process of future researchers. The light of evidence-
based practices can allow these researchers to come up with a hypothesis that can be proved
wrong or right (Batstra, 2012).
Conclusion

Mullen’s article contains some thought-provoking ideas that have the power to change sociology
from a “stream of knowledge” into a “psychological stream of knowledge.” The current
researches in the field of sociology are either dependent on suppositions or assumptions made by
the researchers. The absence of “evidence-based practices” is somehow creating a roadblock for
this stream.
Mullen is right when he is considering it as a roadblock because we are living in the world of Big
Data and latest research facilities are available at our disposal. However, connecting the present
questions with the past answers is not possible for most of the sociologists because they are
dependent on theories. Under the other streams of knowledge a theory itself represents an
evidence-based practice, however, in the case of sociology it is dependent on assumptions and
suppositions.
The present researchers in the field of sociology can pick up a few leaves from the book of
psychology, the addition of evidence-based practice has the potential to bring in the next biggest
evolution in the field of sociology as well. Psychology as science found patronage because of its
ability act as a parallel stream of knowledge along with medical science. Under the current
conditions, sociology can also find patronage in the streams of “understanding the consumer
behavior.” However, “free will” writing of the evidence-based practices is a primary requirement
for this next evolution.

Reference
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