TEDxMidAtlantic 2011 - Duncan Watts - The Myth of Common Sense
TEDx Talks・2 minutes read
The speaker discusses the limitations of common sense in understanding human behavior and advocates for a more systematic, data-driven approach in social science research and decision-making, leveraging technological advancements to observe and measure interactions on a large scale. Various projects analyze online interactions to comprehend the complexity of the social world and believe in the transformative potential of the data revolution in social science, business, and policy.
Insights
- Common sense, while effective in everyday situations, often falls short when dealing with complex and abstract scenarios involving diverse individuals and interactions over time, prompting sociologists to seek more systematic and data-driven approaches.
- The advent of technology, particularly the internet, has ushered in a new era for social science research, enabling real-time observation and measurement of interactions on a large scale, akin to the impact of the telescope in enhancing scientific understanding, advocating for a shift towards leveraging data to address complex societal issues effectively.
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Recent questions
What is common sense?
Common sense is the intelligence used in everyday situations to guide decisions and behaviors without conscious thought.
How do sociologists view common sense?
Sociologists have long grappled with the limitations of common sense in understanding human behavior.
What is hindsight bias?
Hindsight bias is the tendency to construct explanations of past events after knowing the outcome, leading to misleading narratives.
How has technology impacted social science research?
Technology, particularly the internet, has revolutionized social science research by enabling the observation and measurement of interactions between large populations in real-time.
How can data revolutionize social science research?
Data revolution in social science research can provide transformative insights by enabling the observation and measurement of interactions on a large scale.
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