Chapter 2 of Exploring Social Lives (7 hours) .
‘A risky world?’(Audio CD 1) (1 hour) .
‘Different types of academic writing’ (Developing skills Audio CD)(1 hour) .
Online Activities 33 and 34 (2 hours) .
Online Quiz: Exploring Social Lives, Chapter 2 (10–15 minutes)
Well this Chapter is what TMA05 is all about and the questions is,
Write a report that examines how people use expert and lay knowledge about risks in order to live with them.
The main challenge for this TMA is writing a report rather than an essay, that is really the crux of the matter.
The content of the chapter was interesting if a bit thin. There was an interesting example of conflicting "expert knowledge" in relation to soil testing for poisons, but the bottom line was that the second test was designed to test in a way which made soil look safer than it was. The motivation of these tests was to make money, it was a commercial venture, not to provide accurate measurement of poison levels, and the fact that several of these tests brought back differing levels of results shows you pays your money and takes your chance.
The other example was about the dangers of sun exposure and again the "expert knowledge" usually has something to gain by encouraging the purchase of sun-block, sun-glasses, UV-block swim wear for children etc. So once again I guess you realise that you need to question any information you are presented with and ask what the motivation is behind that particular stance.
The last part of the Chapter was about Epidemiology, ‘lay’ epidemiology, ‘Uncle Norman’
and the ‘last person’ which was a useful examination of why lay knowledge is effected and changed by personal knowledge and experience.
So in similar fashion to the last TMA, I think all the information is there, its just a matter of getting it presented in a report format, rather than an essay.
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