Research in the social sciences can be compared to the work of a detective who collects the available evidence while making a case that fits one suspect far better than others. Miles and Huberman (1994) Qualitative Data Analysis
Qui Bono?

Phenomenological Analysis of Obscured Events

Events discussed here are events with dubious or multiple explanations, likely construed to benefit ideological, religious or other power-related interests. Some of the events analyzed were obscured by the plain lack of perspicuity. Others were intentionally obscured by those with power to use mass media media to disseminate disinformation. In many cases the true reasons behind these events were obscured by the passage of time. However, the significant temporal distance can also provide the perspective necessary to see who the real benefactors were, offer plausible answers to the 'qui bono' question, and to provide clues pertaining to the background of malfeasances shrouded in secrecy. Like in any other scientific undertaking, we strive to arrive at the most likely, logical, unbiased, parsimonious, and internally consistent interpretations of socially relevant events, open to reconceptualization if a better explanation is offered or additional facts emerge.

Many of the discussed events were selected with an intent to break taboos enveloping some key religious and ideological matters. These taboos and their emerging criminalization abridge freedom in general and research in social sciences in particular.

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