Course: Research Methods
Common knowledge in scientific writing is data, ideas, or facts widely accepted and known by most people.
Let’s dive into common knowledge, a term you’ll encounter in social research and scientific writing. Both researchers and regular people understand this term. After all, it’s the information everybody knows.
Examples in Different Fields
To help us understand this better, let’s look at examples in three fields: criminal justice, social work, and political science.
Criminal Justice: Rights of the Accused
In criminal justice, common knowledge includes facts like everyone has a right to a lawyer when accused of a crime. If a person can’t afford a lawyer, the court will provide one. This fact is so widely accepted, it’s considered common knowledge. Accordingly, researchers writing about it don’t have to cite a source.
Social Work: Basic Needs of a Child
Switching to social work, we also find examples of this type of knowledge. A clear one is that all children need food, shelter, and love to thrive. You’ve probably heard this before. After all, it’s not just social workers who understand this. It’s common knowledge.
Political Science: Democracy Principles
Lastly, in political science, a democratic country holds elections to choose leaders. That’s common knowledge. Whether you’re in the United States, India, or France, most people understand this fundamental principle. Researchers writing about democracies don’t have to explain this fact. Instead, they assume readers already know it.
The Role of Common Knowledge in Research
So why does common knowledge matter in research? In academic or scientific writing, authors cite sources to back up their arguments or explain where they got their information. Both students and professionals do this. But what about common knowledge? No citation is needed because the information is so well-known.
When to Cite and When Not To
Whether you’re writing a paper or reading a research study, understanding this idea is crucial. It guides when to cite a source and when not to. Facts or ideas that are common knowledge don’t need a citation. But, if you’re not sure, it’s better to cite a source. After all, it’s always better to over-cite than to risk plagiarism.
Conclusion
All in all, such knowledge is information that many people know. It shows up in all fields of study, from criminal justice to political science. The key is to remember its role in scientific writing. Not only does it help avoid over-citation, but it also makes reading research more approachable.