Socio Errors in sociological inquiry

Premature closure of inquiry

Discounting the process of inquiry and observation because of the errors detailed above.

Appeals to tradition

A common fallacy in which a thesis is deemed correct on the basis that it is correlated with some past or present tradition.

Over- Generalization

Assuming that a few similar events are evidence of a general pattern.

Mystification

Attributing supernatural or mystical causes to all situations that seem to lack an explanation.

Ego-Involvement

Avoiding further inquiry because disproof of a personal observation may tend to make one look unintelligent or untrustworthy.

Inaccurate Observation

Failing to observe things right in front of us or mistakenly observing things that really aren't there.

Selective observation

Ignoring events or situations that don't correspond to a preconceived generalization.

Illogical reasoning

Reasoning away the observations that contradict accepted generalizations or conclusions.

Made up information

Thinking up ways to explain away the events that contradict generalizations.

Appeals to authority

Using an authority as evidence in your argument when the authority is not really an authority on the facts relevant to the argument.