Myths and Realities 20: Challenging Myths and Understanding Society
Channel: British Library
Date: 2013-11-01

15 October 2013, Terrace Restaurant, British Library

The final event in the Myths and Realities series of public debates was held on the 15th October. The speakers Professor Ivor Gaber AcSS, City University, London / University of Bedfordshire and Professor John Holmwood AcSS, University of Nottingham and President of the British Sociological Association examined why people continue to believe the social myths that they do, often in the face of strong evidence to the contrary. Why, for instance, does research find that the general public over-estimate benefit fraud and why are politicians tempted to rely on anecdote not evidence? They also examined the role of the media in producing and maintaining social myths and considered how what Social Scientists can do to address these issues.

Our Chair was Professor Dame Janet Finch DBE, DL, AcSS, University of Manchester.