Transcript Mass Media as a Social Institution

CHAPTER 15
Science and the
Mass Media
Section 1: Science as a Social Institution
Section 2: Mass Media as a Social
Institution
SECTION 1
Science as a
Social Institution
Question:
How do the norms of
scientific research differ from
the realities?
SECTION 1
Science as a
Social Institution
Realities of
Scientific Research
Norms of
Scientific Research
 universalism
 organized
skepticism
 communication
 disinterestedness
 counter-norms
Although
many scientists
try to or would
like to follow
Merton’s norms,
reality often falls
short of
this ideal.




fraud
competition
Matthew effect
conflicting
views of reality
SECTION 2
Mass Media as a
Social Institution
Question:
What are some contemporary
mass media issues?
SECTION 2
Mass Media as a
Social Institution
Contemporary Mass-Media Issues
 children watching
too much television
 disengagement from
direct social contact
 violence on television
 decline in social capital
 ratings systems and
parental controls
 Internet causing
decline in face-toface relationships
 advertising targeting
children
 the power of the media;
agenda-setting
CHAPTER 15
Chapter Wrap-Up
1. What four factors contributed to the rebirth of science
in Europe?
2. How did world exploration influence societal behavior
and the growth of scientific learning?
3. What forces combined to encourage the development of
the urban newspaper?
4. How do age, education, and income affect media
consumption? How have new technologies affected this
trend?
5. What functions do the media serve?
6. According to conflict sociologists, how does the
knowledge gap help maintain social inequality?
7. According to Robert Putnam, how has television led to
a decline in the societal capital?