UCSB COMM 88 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ Method of Tradition.
Answer: Can be informative but not helpful when making decisions
because it may be incorrect
◉ Method of Authority.
Answer: ex) church, legal authority (supreme court)
◉ Method of Observation.
Answer: use our sense to collect data and gather information. look
holistically and look for patterns.
◉ Method of Intuition/Logic.
Answer: using our own intellect to look for patterns and make
predictions
◉ Scientific Method.
Answer: observations -> gathering data
logic/intuitions -> constructing theories
,◉ Communication Science.
Answer: Use empirical observations to test theories about
communication processes. 3 main ares: media use, organizations,
interpersonal
◉ Social Science.
Answer: systematic and verifiable observations of people using
logical reasoning. Includes dyadic interactions, group interactions,
mediated interactions, social networks, organizations, entire
nations, etc.
◉ What can science tell us?.
Answer: description (what it is, identify patterns), explanation (why
it is, why pattern exists, causality), and predictions (what will be,
predict outcomes given certain factors)
◉ Social Science Process.
Answer: 1. Formulate Research Question
2. Prepare Research Design
3. Collect Data
4. Analyze and Interpret Data
◉ 4 Key Social Science Methods.
, Answer: Experiment, Survey, Field Research, Existing Data Analysis
◉ Experiment.
Answer: Manipulating an aspect of the environment to observe
behavior under different controlled conditions
◉ Survey.
Answer: asking a relatively large sample of people direct questions
through interviews or questionnaires
◉ Field Research.
Answer: directly observing and often interviewing others to produce
nonnumerical data
◉ Existing Data Analysis.
Answer: Analysis of data from existing sources of information that
were not produced directly by the researcher (ex. presidential
speeches)
◉ Characteristics of Science.
Answer: Public (peer reviewed, replicable), Empirically Rigorous
(many deliberate observations), Objective (control biases, explicit
rules/standards/procedures), Systematic and Cumulative (builds on
prior studies/theories)
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ Method of Tradition.
Answer: Can be informative but not helpful when making decisions
because it may be incorrect
◉ Method of Authority.
Answer: ex) church, legal authority (supreme court)
◉ Method of Observation.
Answer: use our sense to collect data and gather information. look
holistically and look for patterns.
◉ Method of Intuition/Logic.
Answer: using our own intellect to look for patterns and make
predictions
◉ Scientific Method.
Answer: observations -> gathering data
logic/intuitions -> constructing theories
,◉ Communication Science.
Answer: Use empirical observations to test theories about
communication processes. 3 main ares: media use, organizations,
interpersonal
◉ Social Science.
Answer: systematic and verifiable observations of people using
logical reasoning. Includes dyadic interactions, group interactions,
mediated interactions, social networks, organizations, entire
nations, etc.
◉ What can science tell us?.
Answer: description (what it is, identify patterns), explanation (why
it is, why pattern exists, causality), and predictions (what will be,
predict outcomes given certain factors)
◉ Social Science Process.
Answer: 1. Formulate Research Question
2. Prepare Research Design
3. Collect Data
4. Analyze and Interpret Data
◉ 4 Key Social Science Methods.
, Answer: Experiment, Survey, Field Research, Existing Data Analysis
◉ Experiment.
Answer: Manipulating an aspect of the environment to observe
behavior under different controlled conditions
◉ Survey.
Answer: asking a relatively large sample of people direct questions
through interviews or questionnaires
◉ Field Research.
Answer: directly observing and often interviewing others to produce
nonnumerical data
◉ Existing Data Analysis.
Answer: Analysis of data from existing sources of information that
were not produced directly by the researcher (ex. presidential
speeches)
◉ Characteristics of Science.
Answer: Public (peer reviewed, replicable), Empirically Rigorous
(many deliberate observations), Objective (control biases, explicit
rules/standards/procedures), Systematic and Cumulative (builds on
prior studies/theories)
