Beware of the Expert

Often times as students we get so caught up in an article that we are reading that we forget to critically examine the content of the article. When I first started reading sociological articles I would often take what they say at face value because the articles have been peer reviewed. One lesson I learned this semester is that being critical is important--and most of all that is how the field of sociology grows.

Most Fields Of Study Have Been Around For A Long Time

One of the most important things to realize about any field is that most fields of study have been around for a very long time. Some of them include all sorts of biases like bias against certain races, classes, and genders. The article may be very valid, you may just have to dig through a little bit of racist rhetoric every once and a while. This is a sign of the mass amount of change we have over the years. It's crazy the sheer amount of amazing things we have done in just the last 100 years as far as bias is concerned.

Studies Are Peer-Reviewed, But Sometimes That's Not Enough

Just because a study is peer-reviewed, doesn't mean that bias won't rear it's ugly head within the articles you read for class! As I stated in point one, these fields of study have been around for a very long time. When the study was published, other people probably felt the same exact way as the author, and therefore didn't feel the need to point out these mistakes and biases. 

If You See Bias, Definitely Call It Out

Don't be a sheep when it comes to reading for any class. Critically examine the articles, figure out the implicit and explicit biases the authors may have. Even if they are well known in your field, you are more than likely correct about that bias. Fields of thought don't grow unless a new generation of leaders question the existing leaders. We can learn so much when new people give their perspectives to a discipline. Your voice counts.

The next time you read an article or book for your class I hope that you actually read between the lines. I have been doing way more critical thinking while reading articles. This semester I realized something important.

~I don't have to agree with the sociologists in my field!~

This has been such a freeing revelation. I mean, I always knew I didn't have to agree with every single thing I read. For instance, I am definitely more of a conflict theorist versus a functionalist theorist. For some reason though, I never actually questioned the validity of the statements from sociologists I adored or ones I didn't adore. I figured that the peer review process would take care of that. Honestly, it doesn't always do it though. Sometimes you need someone completely outside of that process to do the job. Don't be afraid to be that person for your field!