I had a sociology professor that told the class that he knew a guy in the field who did studies by commission for companies. When he would get one, he would find whoever in the company commissioned the study (generally the boss or whoever was in charge of commissioning studies) and what he wanted to hear and would simply make the study show whatever that was. That guy made a ton of money because the guy he placated would always call call him back when they needed a new study.
That's not really uncommon. Most sociology/psychology people do that, though often with a lot more lying to themselves about it, because its the only way you can actually have money in the field.
Its actually a pretty shitty situation, because even if you want to do the right thing and pursue truth you just won't get paid, the study won't be published, and you won't get to work anymore. Its a complete waste of time and energy.
And unlike most fields, you can't just go into the applied side to make your money. Because sociologists don't actually have a use, and Therapists make even less money.
I had a sociology professor that told the class that he knew a guy in the field who did studies by commission for companies. When he would get one, he would find whoever in the company commissioned the study (generally the boss or whoever was in charge of commissioning studies) and what he wanted to hear and would simply make the study show whatever that was. That guy made a ton of money because the guy he placated would always call call him back when they needed a new study.
That's not really uncommon. Most sociology/psychology people do that, though often with a lot more lying to themselves about it, because its the only way you can actually have money in the field.
Its actually a pretty shitty situation, because even if you want to do the right thing and pursue truth you just won't get paid, the study won't be published, and you won't get to work anymore. Its a complete waste of time and energy.
And unlike most fields, you can't just go into the applied side to make your money. Because sociologists don't actually have a use, and Therapists make even less money.