Final answer:
The primary job of a theory in science is to provide a comprehensive framework that guides researchers in forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and interpreting results to distinguish facts from opinions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary job of a theory in science is to guide researchers in asking the right questions and looking for answers in an informed way. Theories are comprehensive explanations of phenomena that are supported by empirical evidence and are helpful in predicting outcomes of future experiments. In the scientific method, a hypothesis is first proposed as a tentative answer and is then tested through research and experimentation. If a hypothesis consistently holds true and aligns with existing data, it may evolve into a theory. This theory then becomes a crucial framework for understanding reality and helps to distinguish fact from mere opinion. Consequently, a good theory should be consistent with most data and correlate with other existing theories, helping us to explain various aspects of the natural world, social life, or other fields of inquiry.
Facts in science are obtained through rigor, curiosity, and structured research. The structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism are examples of theoretical frameworks within sociology that have persisted due to their utility in explaining social phenomena. Approaches like these demonstrate the significance of theory in providing a systematic way of asking questions, seeking answers, and generating knowledge that influences both public policy and personal decisions.