University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
COMS 150 | Introduction to Communication Studies
Academic year:

2020
Views:

434

Pages:

1
Author:

Dania Lynch

Guided Reading Activity 1. When we say that sociology is a social science, we mean that it uses the Scientific Method to try to understand the many aspects of society that sociologists study. 2. An important goal is to yield Generalizations —general statements regarding trends among various dimensions of social life. a. Stereotypes b. Generalizations c. Common sense d. Personal experiences 3. Why is sociology so different from other social sciences like physics? Sociology is different from other social sciences because Sociology can help us understand the social forces that affect our behavior, beliefs, and life chances, but it can only go so far. Physics is more like science because it teaches us about how the universe behaves. 4. List the 5 sources where individuals get their knowledge: Social Media, Personal Experience, the Scientific Method, Traditions, Expert Authorities. 5. Although personal experiences are very important, not everyone has the same personal experience. 6. Why is common sense not a reliable source of knowledge? a. Not everyone has it b. It varies from culture to culture c. It can contradict itself d. Only women have it (actually, this could be right…) 7. What are the two issues with the way the media covers topics and news? You don't even know if it's fake or real. So many media pages and News are sometimes fake news or false information to make u think a certain way. Expert authorities, such as teachers , parents, and government officials, are a fourth source that influences our understanding of social reality. 8. Why can’t individuals always trust “expert authorities”? They can't trust ‘’expert authorities’’ because the evidence may not be updated to the fullest or it can also be false. Tradition is generally valuable, because a society should always be aware of its Roots. However, traditional ways of thinking about social reality often turn out to be inaccurate and Incomplete 9. The scientific method is followed in the natural, physical, and social sciences to help yield the most accurate and reliable conclusions possible, especially ones that are free of bias or methodological errors. 10. Which of the following is NOT one of the four steps in the scientific method? a. Formulating a theory b. Measuring and gathering data c. Analyzing data d. Publishing your research