©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1/29/2025.
SOC 3900: CH.1 Science, Society, and Social
Research Exam Study Guide.
Overgeneralization - Answer✔Occurs when we unjustifiably conclude that what is true for some
cases is true for all cases.
EX.Seeing too few people
Selective (inaccurate) observation: - Answer✔Choosing to look only at things that are in line
with our preferences or beliefs.
EX. Seeing the wrong people
Illogical reasoning - Answer✔Prematurely jumping to conclusions and arguing on the basis of
invalid assumptions
EX. People try to see patterns or connections between events when sound reasoning does not
support such a connection.
Resistance to change - Answer✔The reluctance to change our ideas in light of new information.
EX. People often accept the recommendations of those in positions of authority without
question. In all, we often close our eyes to what's actually happening in the world.
social science - Answer✔The use of scientific methods to investigate individuals, societies, and
social processes; the knowledge produced by these
investigations.
Social science research methods reduce the likelihood of overgeneralization by using systematic
procedures for selecting individuals or groups to study so that the study subjects are
representative of the individuals or groups to which we want to generalize.
descriptive research - Answer✔research conducted to clarify the characteristics of certain
phenomena to solve a particular problem
1|Page
SOC 3900: CH.1 Science, Society, and Social
Research Exam Study Guide.
Overgeneralization - Answer✔Occurs when we unjustifiably conclude that what is true for some
cases is true for all cases.
EX.Seeing too few people
Selective (inaccurate) observation: - Answer✔Choosing to look only at things that are in line
with our preferences or beliefs.
EX. Seeing the wrong people
Illogical reasoning - Answer✔Prematurely jumping to conclusions and arguing on the basis of
invalid assumptions
EX. People try to see patterns or connections between events when sound reasoning does not
support such a connection.
Resistance to change - Answer✔The reluctance to change our ideas in light of new information.
EX. People often accept the recommendations of those in positions of authority without
question. In all, we often close our eyes to what's actually happening in the world.
social science - Answer✔The use of scientific methods to investigate individuals, societies, and
social processes; the knowledge produced by these
investigations.
Social science research methods reduce the likelihood of overgeneralization by using systematic
procedures for selecting individuals or groups to study so that the study subjects are
representative of the individuals or groups to which we want to generalize.
descriptive research - Answer✔research conducted to clarify the characteristics of certain
phenomena to solve a particular problem
1|Page
