28 December 2008
Wanted
Filed under Aleatory Research
An example of a scholarly investigation of a topic or figure which finds that the conventional representation of such is in fact exhaustive and accurate.
2008-12-28 :: Jonathan
31 December 2008 @ 7:54 am
Kate Fox’s Watching the English is an anthropologist’s description of various customs and idiosyncrasies of English behavior; she generally finds that the well-known stereotypes that describe the way the English behave are correct to a surprising degree.
To be sure, it’s an entertaining book for a general audience, not a scholarly treatment; the investigations described in the book are, however, claimed to be scientific and systematic, rather than anecdotal.
31 December 2008 @ 7:57 am
The Ig Nobel prizes should provide many examples. E.g. in 2008: “Physics: Dorian Raymer and Douglas Smith, for proving that heaps of string or hair will inevitably tangle.”
22 January 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Following #2′s example, I would argue that a great deal of scientific and social scientific literature simply confirms conventional opinion.
Like today on NPR: In turbulent times, people listen to mellower music!