Social Science Research in the Media Assignment:
Background and Rationale
Social scientific research findings are frequently cited in mass-media articles, yet these sources are much different than peer-reviewed journal articles and not always accurate. In this assignment you will find/choose a mass-media article that refers to social-scientific findings on a topic related to sociology of the family. You will also read the primary research article that is referenced in the mass-media article. You will then write a 2-3 page (double spaced) essay on whether the mass-media article was an accurate representation of the research findings.
At the end of this activity, you will be able to:
Differentiate between scholarly work (a professional research article) and popular sources of knowledge (media article).
Appreciate the importance of the peer review process in publishing scholarly work.
Engage critically and reflectively with scholarly discourse.
Exercise critical thinking in writing.
Steps
First, find/choose a media article written by a journalist that uses recent social science research to support its claims. The topic should be related to families and it should link to a primary research report; ideally, a peer-reviewed journal article but because research takes place both inside and outside the academy, any institutionally sponsored research report on families will suffice (see below for some places to start). Institutionally sponsored means that the research was undertaken under the auspices of an established research organization,[1] government agency, nonprofit think tank, or university-based research institute.
Next find and read closely the primary research report or journal article that the journalist was spotlighting in their story (if more than one study is referenced, choose one to write about, preferably the one that most closely resembles an academic journal article). Most reputable news sources will include links to primary research in the text of their stories.
Then, in a 2-3 page write-up (see formatting requirements below):
Summarize the mass-media article: Who wrote it, and where was it published? Is it a news article or opinion piece? Why did the author think the research was relevant? Did the author talk about multiple research reports or just focus on one? Did they summarize the entire report, or just one or two of findings? Answers to these points require you to read the primary research article.
Summarize the primary research report: Who wrote it (provide credentials or job title and institutional affiliations) and where was it published?[2] What was the study’s hypothesis or aim? What were its findings?
Determine whether the mass-media article accurately represented the findings presented in the research article: Did they distort the findings in any way? Did they misinterpret it or leave anything out? Refer to any of our course materials, as applicable. Explain why you think the media article accurately or inaccurately portrayed the findings of the primary research (for example, the journalist is also an expert in the field; journalistic conventions, other aspects of news work – see PPTX presentation).
Discuss how you might correct the media article, if at all.
Your write-ups should be double-spaced with 1” margins on all sides. Use a standard 11 or 12 point font. Include a references section where you provide links to both the mass media article and the primary research article. Present your references in whatever style you prefer.
Some Places to Start
The Married Will Soon Be the Minority
The New Question Haunting Adoption
Does Co-Housing Provide a Path to Happiness for Modern Parents?
What Drove the 1984 Surge in Weddings?
Biden’s Student-Debt Plan Could Chip Away at the Racial Wealth Gap. I’m sending you this article as an example. But you can choose to work with this.
