5.2 Feeding your curiosity: finding out more about a subject
In the previous activity, you reflected on topics that make you curious, and the questions related to these topics which you would like to have answered.
This moment of your curiosity being stirred, is the same starting point for any student, or social science researcher. This section explores how you can you feed this curiosity.
You will recall from the early sections within this course, that social scientists emphasise the importance of studying a topic in a clear, rigorous and systematic way. In order to gain meaningful knowledge and understanding of a subject, it’s therefore important to consult trustworthy sources. But what are trustworthy, sources, and which should you be cautious of?
Activity 6: Find out more
Imagine that you want to find out about the relationship between poverty and crime.
Look at the below list of potential sources which you could consult to feed your curiosity. Which do you think would be helpful in gaining a clear and reliable understanding of the subject – and which would not be useful for this purpose? Don’t worry if you’re not sure of your answer, just make your best guess.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is b.
Answer
Tabloid journalism tends to voice opinions, but is not necessarily based on any data or research. In many cases, tabloid newspapers have a clear political bias.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is a.
Answer
BBC journalism is well respected internationally as reliable and impartial. BBC journalists use reliable sources and fact-check their reports. This transparency means that readers can trust the accuracy.
BBC Verify was established in 2023 in order to ‘fact-checking, verifying video, countering disinformation, analysing data and – crucially – explaining complex stories in the pursuit of truth’ (BBC, 2023).
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is b.
Answer
People posting on social media are not necessarily experts on the subject.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is b.
Answer
People posting on social media are not necessarily experts on the subject.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is a.
Answer
The ONS is the official statistics agency for the UK government, but operates independently. It is therefore widely considered to be impartial. The ONS generates a wide range of reports and datasets each year, which are open to the public.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is a.
Answer
Peer reviewed journal articles are written by experts in the field. The term ‘peer reviewed’ means that other experts have engaged in a dialogue with the author in order to ensure the quality and rigour of the article.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is a.
Answer
Books that are written by experts tend to be well researched and reliable. It is worth checking the qualifications and credentials of the author.
a.
Reliable
b.
Unreliable
The correct answer is b.
Answer
The opinions of a person at the pub are not necessary based on research or an expert understanding of the issues.
Once you become interested in an issue or subject, it’s a great idea to try and find out more about it. However, it’s important to consult reliable and informed sources. Consulting unreliable and ill-informed sources can prevent you from properly understanding a social science issue.
Of course, this shouldn’t stop you from talking to friends about these issues or viewing social media posts. It just means that you should be cautious about distinguishing reliable, well-informed information of a subject.