Sociology 120

Fredericton High School

As part of your sociology course this year, you are required to research, prepare and present a sociological issue in the form of a SEMINAR.

What is a seminar?  A seminar is an opportunity for you to communicate to the class the information you have learned about your chosen issue and engage them in the sociological perspective.  A seminar is hard work!  It will require many hours of research and preparation.  BUT, it is also rewarding.  The knowledge and skills you gain will stay with you for a lifetime.

How much is my seminar worth?  Your seminar is worth 15% of your final mark in the course. 

How do I prepare a seminar? (You will be guided through this process in class.)

·         Select a topic of interest and/or experience.

·         Search a variety of sources for relevant information (magazines, statistics, government documents, television, text books, personal research …)

·         Form a Question for Investigation – you will conduct research to reach a satisfactory conclusion

·         Study your material critically, gleaning pertinent information.  Record the publication information from all sources for your bibliography.

·         Employ a variety of media to communicate your issue to the class – PowerPoint, video, music, discussion, posters, lecture …

·         Use a working draft to create, revise, edit your seminar.  Strive for continuity and fluidity in your presentation.  There should be a natural progression of thought.

·         Always be mindful of the sociological perspective.  Consider the theories discussed in class.  Use the terminology we have learned this semester.

·         Test your seminar on a friend or relative.  This will help you gauge the length (you’re aiming for a 20 – 25 minute presentation with 5 -10 minutes of questions) and determine whether or not your key ideas have been conveyed.

·         Ensure you are prepared before the day of the presentation.  All tech support materials need to be arranged prior to the class.

What do I submit on the due date?  On the day of your seminar, you will submit your support tools (posters…) in addition to a three-page written composition which details the following: 1. your hypothesis, 2. the key points and statistics of your seminar, and 3. your conclusion.

How will I be evaluated?  Evaluation will focus on 4 main areas: 

preparation

communication

coverage of material

participation in classmates’ seminars

Potential Seminar Topics                                   

The following list of topics is intended to help you generate an idea for your sociology seminar.  The topics are broad in their scope and will require a clearer focus as you move toward a specific subject matter.  This is not an exhaustive list; you may have your own idea. 

Choose wisely.  Since you will be immersed in your topic for several weeks of study and preparation you should select a topic which will be meaningful to you.

Remember, your seminar must focus on the sociological implications of the topic.

wealth / poverty                                  suicide

assisted suicide                                   terrorism

genocide                                              racism

sexual orientation                                gender discrimination

home schooling                                   homelessness

child abuse                                          spousal abuse

elder abuse                                          immigration

body image                                         urbanization

crowd behaviour                                 French immersion in NB education

inclusion in NB education                  changing ideas of family

public vs. private schools                    high school drop outs

gender bias in schools                         video gaming

divorce                                                            gender socialization

gender and sports                                ageism

daycare system                                    nursing homes

elder care                                             baby boomers

illiteracy                                              music lyrics

school uniforms                                   sexual harassment

obedience to authority                                    group conformity

anorexia / bulimia                                ADHD

TADD / MADD                                 childhood obesity

Reality TV                                          personal electronic devices (cells, iPods…)

hippie movement                                 political protesting

school violence                                    hazing

genetic engineering                             underage drinking

AIDS –world wide epidemics                        commercialism

child labour                                         right to privacy

capital punishment                              cults

media violence                                    teen depression

An additonal option is to conduct a research project and present the results to the class. This can only be done once we complete chapter 2 on Research Methods

The date by which you must declare your topic will be announced.                   

Sociology Seminar Topics

The following is a list of potential seminar topics. You do not have to choose anything from this list but verify your choice with me first before starting your research. Only one presentation will be permitted on each topic.

The time limit will be a maximum of 20 minutes and you will be able to work with a partner. Each person should take equal responsibility in the oral presentation.

Research proposal                                                                                Cults

Biker Gangs                                                                                         Polygamy

G-20 Summit                                                                           Politics of the Olympics

Sex Slaves                                                                                Alcoholism

Safe Injection Sites                                                                  Correctional System

Multiculturalism in Canada                                                    Suicide

Mental Health                                                                         Aging in Canada

Senior Boomers                                                                      Euthanasia

Child Soldiers                                                                          Conflict in an African Country

Impact of Mass Media                                                            Big Box Stores

Outsourcing                                                                            Genocide

Male/Female Differences in Growth and Development        Social Class

High School Peer Groups                                                        Religion in Canada

Prostitution                                                                             Urban Issues

Urban Myths                                                                           Sexism in Modern Music

Lost Childhood                                                                        Illegal Immigrants

Honor Killings                                                                          First Nation Issues

Working Poor                                                                          Welfare in Canada

Organized Crime                                                                    Inner City Life

Gender Issues                                                                          Modern Family Structure

Self-Esteem                                                                             Social Networking

Bullying                                                                                   Crime and            Punishment in Canada

Disability Issues                                                                       Group Behaviour

White Collar Crime                                                                 Consumer Fraud

Counter Cultures                                                                     Rise of Militia Groups

Body Image                                                                             Celebrity Obsession

Socialization                                                                            Advertising

Stem Cell and Other Controversial Medical Research          Melting Pot vs

Cultural Mosaic

Research Proposal

Research is very important to Sociology. It is the primary way in which sociologists develop an understanding of society. If you go to university and major/minor in Sociology or Psychology (as well as other disciplines) you will have to take a Research Methods and Statistics course. If you go on the Masters level you will take these courses again-at an advanced level.

The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to research design and how challenging it can be to develop a research proposal.

The first step, of course, is to come up with an idea and probably a hypothesis about that issue.

Step two is to consider the research design and which best meets your needs.

Step three is to collect and analyze the data you have collected.

Step four is drawing conclusions and reporting your findings.

In this course you may choose to actually carry out the study you have designed and present it to the class for your seminar. If you choose not to do this then you will only complete steps one and two.

The topic you choose must have some sociological value. In other words, if you were to carry out this study, it must help us understand some aspect of society. Needless to say that is quite broad and one of the challenges you may encounter is to narrow your focus into something manageable; texting while driving habits of FHS students.

Points to Ponder:

-Avoiding bias

-Deductive versus Inductive approach

-Quantitative versus Qualitative Model

-Experiments, surveys, secondary analysis, Field research, Case studies

-Sampling considerations

Make sure your study conforms to the Sociological Code of Ethics.

Seminar Dates: Two per day

May 1- Ashleigh D-Recycling

              Andrew-TBA

May 3-Keegan and Eloise-TBA

             Amy A-TBA

May 8-Kaleigh and Shannon-TBA

             Laura and Jill-Bystander Affect 

May 10-Marissa-TBA

               Ben and Rob-TBA

May 15-Gina, Jess W Lindsay-TBA

               Jessica F and Rebecca-Reality TV

May 17- Ryan, Kyle and Andrew-Wealth and Poverty

                 Cody and Sam-TBA

May 22-Jon and Kristina-Stange Addictions

               Olivia, Grayson, David-Body Image

May 24-Jacentha-TBA

               William-TBA

Assignment:

Find an article from a magazine, newspaper or any other periodical about some aspect of Canadian society. Provide a copy for other members of the class to read a couple of days in advance. You will take the lead in a class discussion based on the article. The purpose of this assignment is to help you develop a sociological imagination. This assignment must be completed by May 1

Chapter #1-The Sociological Perspective

Sociology: The systematic study of human society and social interaction.

-Systematic because it uses both theoretical perspectives and research methods to examine social behavior

Sociology provides insight to us and our social world. Enables us see how behavior is largely shaped by the groups to which we belong and the society in which we live. (Talk about Cultural Relativism)

Sociology helps us look beyond our personal experiences and gain insights into society and the larger world order.

Gleaner article: Lawyer: Attacks on women happen far too often in Canada.

Society: A large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Think of the diverse culture of Canada and how this creates problems compared to a more homogenous culture.

Global Interdependence: The lives of all people are closely intertwined and any one nation’s problems are part of a larger global problem.

Society helps us gain new insights to ourselves and to develop a greater awareness of the connection between our own “world” and that of other people.

Sociology helps us see that “things are not what they seem.

Many of rely on intuition or common sense to help us understand our daily lives and other people’s behaviour. Commonsense knowledge guides our ordinary conduct in everyday life. We often rely on common sense, or “what everyone knows,” to answer key questions about behavior.

Many commonsense notions actually are myths.

Myth: A popular but false notion that may be used intentionally or unintentionally to perpetuate certain beliefs or “theories” even in the light of evidence to the contrary.

“Money buys happiness”

“Opposites attract”

Media-the source of much of our commonsense knowledge. Sociologist strive to use scientific standards not popular myths or hearsay.

       -Systematic Research techniques

       -Accountable to the scientific community

Sociologists attempt to discover patterns and commonalities in human behaviour. They seek out the multiple causes and effects and analyze the impact from the standpoint of the victims and society.

Some sociologists argue that sociology must be completely value free-free from distorting subjective bias. Others do not think that total objectivity is attainable or desirable when studying human behavior.

Sociologists C. Wright Mills-“Sociological Imagination”
       The ability to see the relationships between individual experiences and the larger society. Helps distinguish between personal problems and public issues. Many of our individual experiences may be largely beyond our own control-determined by society as a whole.

The text page 6 uses Overspending as a personal problem and a public problem

http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/01/17/trouble-in-the-big-house/

-Race: groups of people distinguished by physical characteristics such as skin color

There are no “pure” racial types.

Concept used to justify inequalities

-Ethnicity: the cultural heritage or identity of a group based on factors such as language or country of origin.

-Class: where people fit into the larger society based on wealth, power, prestige, etc

-Sex: biological and anatomical differences

-Gender: refers to the culturally and socially constructed meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with sex differences.

August Comte:1798-1857

-Coined term “Sociology”

-Founder of Sociology

-Societies contain social statics: Forces for social orderand stability; Social Dynamics which are forces for conflict and change

-Methods of natural sciences used to study society

-Envisioned a new consensus would emerge on social issuesand that the new science of Sociology would play a significant role in thereorganization of society

-Positivism-beliefthe world can be best understood through scientific inquiry

-Bias-free knowledge attainable only through science

-Scientific knowledge is relative knowledge-not absolute andfinal

-Two dimensions:

i)Mehodological-application of scientific knowledge to bothphysical and social phenomena

ii) Social and political-use of such knowledge to predictthe likely results of different policies so the best one could be chosen

-The nature of human thinking and knowledge passed throughseveral stages as societies evolved from simple to more complex

Harriet Martineau:1802-1876

-Translated Comte

-Analyzed consequences of industrialization and capitalism

-Paid special attention to class, race, and gender

-Advocated racial and gender equality

-Sociologists should be impartial in their assessment ofsociety but valid to compare the existing state of society with the principleson which it was founded

-Societal progress could be brought about by the spread ofdemocracy and the growth of industrial capitalism

-Better society would emerge if woman and men were treatedequally, if cooperation existed among people of all social classes enlightenedreform would occur

-Analyzed large-scale social structures in society but alsoexplored how these factors influenced the lives of people especially thosemarginalized by society

Herbert Spencer:1820-1903

-Evolutionary perspective on social order and social change

-Society was like a biological organism –has variousinterdependent parts that work to ensure the stability and survival of theentire society

-Societies developed through a process of struggle forexistence and fitness for survival-“survival of the fittest”

-Social Darwinism-those species of animals, includinghumans, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper whereas thosepoorly adapted die out

-Opposed any social reform that might interfere with thenatural selection process thereby damaging society by favoring its least worthymembers

-Critics argue that society is not a biological system. Hisideas used to justify class and racial-ethnic

and gender inequalities

Emile Durkheim:1858-1917

-People are the product of their social environment and thatbehaviour cannot be understood fully in terms of individual biological andpsychological traits

-Social Facts: patterned ways of acting, thinking, andfeeling that exist outside any one individual but that exert social controlover each person

-Concerned with social order and social stability

-Pre-industrial societies held together by strong traditionsand by shared moral beliefs and values

-In Industrialized societies economic activity was thesocial bond because people became inter-dependent

-Rapid social change and more specialized division of laborproduce “strains.”  This leads tobreakdown of traditional organization, value, and authority.

-Anomie: a condition in which social control becomesineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and sense of purpose insociety

-Regarded as the “crucial figure” in the development ofsociology as an academic discipline and as one of the deepest roots of thesociological imagination

-Social glue and a sense of belonging

Max Weber:1864-1920

-Concerned about changes during the Industrial Revolution

-Economic interests important in shaping human action

-Sociology should be value free-research should be conductedin a scientific manner excluding researchers personal values and economicinterests

-Understood that sociologists cannot be totally value free

-Should employ “insight” to see the world as others see it

-Large scale organizations (bureaucracies) becomingincreasingly oriented toward routine administration and specialized division oflabor. Believed this was destructive to human vitality and freedom.

-Bureaucracy rather than class struggle was the mostsignificant factor in determining the social relations among people inindustrialized society

-Bureaucratic domination can be used to maintain powerful (capitalist)interests in society

-“Rationalization” the process by which modern world hascome to be increasingly dominated by the structures devoted to efficiency,calculability, predictability and technological control

Georg Simmel:1858-1918

=Society a web of patterned interactions

-Sociology should examine these social interaction processes within groups

-Social interactions vary depending on the size of the social group. Dyads-2 members; Triads-3 members

-Formal Sociology focuses attention on the universal recurring social forms that underlie the varying content of social interaction. Referred to them as the “geometry of life.”

-Distinguished between forms of social interaction such as cooperation or conflict and the content of social interaction in different contexts; leaders and followers

-Analyzed impact of industrialization and urbanization

-Class conflict becoming more pronounced; modern example is the occupy movement

-Increase of individualism due to the fact that people now had many cross-cutting “social spheres;” variety of social involvements rather than having a singular community ties of the past

-Assessed “progress” on upper class city dwellers who had to develop certain techniques to survive overwhelming stimulation of the city

-Protect the autonomy of the individual in society

-“Philosophy of Money” shed light on the issue of consumerism. Money takes on a life of its own as people come to see money and the things that it can purchase as an end in themselves. Everything and everyone has a price. People lose the ability to distinguish what is value and what is not.

-Credit cards an important tool in the process as people assume more and more debt

                                                                                                                                       Karl Marx 1818-1883

-

Stressed that history is a continuous clash between conflicting ideas and forces

-Believed that conflict, especially class conflict, is necessary in order to produce social change and a better society

-Believed the capitalist economic system was responsible for the overwhelming poverty hew observed in London during the Industrial Revolution

-Class conflict is the struggle between the capitalist class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat)

-From Marx's point of view the capitalist class controls and exploits the masses of struggling working by paying less than the value of their labor

-THis exploitation leads to alienation; a feeling of powerlessness and estrangement from other people

-He predicted the working class would become aware of its exploitation, overthrow the capitalists, and establish a free and classless society

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TWO IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MARKS.

IF YOU ARE ABSENT THE DAY OF A TEST OR THE DUE DATE FOR AN ASSIGNMENT A MARK OF 0 WILL BE RECORDED UNTIL THE ITEM IS TAKEN CARE OF. I WILL NOT CHASE YOU TO GET THESE DONE. THE MARK WILL STAY A 0 AND THE ONUS IS ON YOU TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO COMPLETE IT

SECONDLY: SOMETIMES THERE IS A DISCREPENCY BETWEEN WHAT YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT I HAVE IN MY RECORDS. IN THESE SITUATIONS YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SHOW ME THE TEST OR ASSIGNMENT AND THE MARK YOU RECEIVED ON IT. SO, DO NOT THROW ANYTHING OUT BECAUSE MY RECORDS WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE.

22 Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives

The various perspectives represent a method of examining the same phenomena. Each is based on the general ideas as to how social life is organized and represents an effort to link specific observations in a meaningful way. Each utilizes a theory-a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to describe, explain, and occasionally predict social events.

Each theory helps interpret reality in a distinct way by providing a framework in which observations may be logically ordered. Refer to this as a perspective-an overall approach to or viewpoint on some subject.

The perspectives that we will examine provide a useful framework but not all theories fit neatly into any of them nor do all sociologists category themselves in this way.

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/

Functionalist Perspectives:

AKA-functionalism

-Based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system.

-Characterized by societal consensus whereby the majority of members share a common set of values, beliefs, and behavioral expectations.

-Society composed of interrelated parts each serving a function and contributes to overall stability.

-Societies develop social structures that persist because they play a role in helping society survive; family, education, government, religion, and the economy.

-If one of these suffers adversity all other parts are affected and the system no longer works properly.

-This may lead to an increase in social problems such as increase in crime and suicide.

-Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) most influential advocate of Functionalism.

-Stressed all societies must make provisions for meeting social needs in order to survive.

-Suggested a division of labor between husband and wife essential for family stability and social order. Husband performs instrumental tasks such as leadership, and decision-making in the home and employment outside the home to support the family. The wife/mother is responsible for the expressive tasks including housework, caring for children, and providing emotional support for the family.

All other systems must work to preserve this system over time.

Robert K Merton (1910-2003) distinguished between manifest and latent functions.

Manifest Functions-are intended and/or overtly recognized by the participants in a social unit.

Latent Functions-are the unintended functions that are hidden and remain unacknowledged by the participants

Dysfunctions-are the undesirable consequences of any element of society.

Critics: questioned rigid differentiation of gender roles.

Tended to promote status quo.

Applying the Perspective

-Most emphasize the importance of shared moral values and strong social bonds to a society.

-When rapid social change occurs moral values may erode, people become more uncertain about how to act.

-Emile Durkheim-Social Solidarity is the state of having shared beliefs and values among members of a social group along with intense and frequent interaction among group members.

Proponents of Functionalism suggest that this perspective emphasizes the importance of social bonds for the stability of society and well-being of individuals.

Use the concept of Globalization and apply this perspective.

Conflict Perspective

-Groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources

-Conflict can take many forms; litigation, politics, negotiations, discussions

-Inevitability of clashes between social groups

-Social life a continuous power struggle among competing social groups

- Karl Marx focused on the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie

-Max Weber added conflict for power and prestige to Marx’s economic conditions

-Weber defined power as the ability of a person within a social relationship to carry out his or her own will despite resistance from others

-“Prestige” is a positive or negative social estimation of honor

-Others have looked at conflict as a normal part of everyday life in any society

-Dahrendorf-conflict inherent in all authority relationships not just between capitalists and working class. Power is the critical variable in explaining human behavior.

People in position benefit from conformity. Those who are forced to conform feel resentment and demonstrate resistance. The advantaged group attempts to maintain status quo and may use coercion to do so.

-C. Wright Mills encouraged Sociologists to look beneath everyday events in order to observe the major resource and power inequalities that exist in society. He believed the most important decisions are made largely behind the scenes by the power elite – a small clique composed of the top corporate, political, and military officials.

Read and discuss bottom of p. 25- Applying the Perspective Social Class and Race.

Feminist Perspective:

-Originated as a reaction to traditional sociological theory that did not acknowledge the role of women.

-Written by men sociology involved the study of men and not humankind

-They argued that sociological methods, concepts, and analyses were products of the “male social universe.”

-They appeared as men saw them not as they saw themselves.

-Sociology actually contributed to the subordination and exploitation of women.

-Set about generating research and theory “by, for, and about women.”

-In doing so brought women’s issues to the public forum.

-Feminists Perspective focus on the significance of gender in understanding and explaining inequalities that exist between men and women in the household, in the paid labour force, and in the realm of politics, law, and culture.

-Feminism is not a unified approach. Feminism includes conservative, liberal, radical, and socialist strains

-Includes micro and macroscopic level analysis when looking at the issues of women.

-Use a structural approach to explain how gender inequality is created and maintained in a society dominated by men

-Regardless of the approach all feminist viewpoints focus on the belief that “women and men are equal and should be equally valued as well as have equal rights.”

-According to feminists we live in a patriarchy- a hierarchical system of power in which males possess greater economic and social privilege than females. These inequalities are created by society and not by biological inheritance.

-Feminists assume that society reinforces social expectations through social learning

Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives:

-Conflict and Functionalist perspectives criticized for focusing on macrolevel analysis

-A macrolevel analysis examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, and social systems instead of individual’s lives.

-S.I. examines people’s day to day interactions and their behavior in groups. This perspectives is based on a microlevel analysis which focuses on small groups rather than large scale social structures.

-According to this perspective society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups.

-Focus on the process of interaction-reciprocally oriented communication between two or more people and the role that symbols play in giving meaning to human communication.

-A symbol is anything that meaningfully represents something else

-Symbolic Interaction occurs when people communicate through the use of symbols including facial gestures, posture, tone of voice, and other gestures such as a handshake.

-Symbols important to help people derive meaning from social situations

-In social encounters each person’s interpretation of given situations becomes subjective reality. We often assume that reality is shared however this is often incorrect

-Subjective reality is acquired through age-old symbols especially language

-When people in a group do not share the meaning then confusion results

-How people interpret the messages they receive becomes their subjective reality

-S.I. attempts to study how people make sense of their life situations

-How people develop the capacity to think and act in socially prescribed ways

-Our thoughts and behaviors shaped by our interaction with others

-Individual personalities are developed from social experience and we could not have a sense of “self” without this interaction

-The attainment of language critical in this process

-According to S.I. social organization and society are possible only through people’s everyday interactions

-Macrolevel factors define and constrain the kind of interaction we have with one another

-Impression management the attempt to present ourselves to others in a particular way

-Dramaturgical Analysis envisions individuals going through life somewhat like actors performing on a stage

Postmodern Perspective:

-According to this perspective existing theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies characterized by post industrialization, consumerism, and global communication.

-They reject previous theories and how the theories were created

-They believe boundaries should not be placed on academic disciplines. Much can be learned from an interdisciplinary approach.

-Earlier theories emerged post Industrial Revolution while postmodern came about after WWII.

-Postmodern societies are characterized by an information explosion and an economy in which large numbers of people either provide or apply information or employed in service jobs.

-Corresponding rise in a consumer society and emergence of a global village connected by technology.

-Criticism include the fact that postmodern perspective ignores many of the central problems of our time-inequalities based on race, class, gender, and global political and economic oppression.

Chapter #2 Sociological Research

Altruism: behaviour intended to help others and done without any expectations of personal benefit.

Sociologists try to understand social behaviour. Five ways of knowing the world:

1) Personal experience

2) Tradition-tells us that something is correct because it has always been done that way. We accept what has always been believed rather than finding out the answers by ourselves.

3) Authority-experts tell us something is true.

4) Religion-special type of authority. We accept certain truths that religious scriptures and officials advocate.

5) Science-the scientific way involves controlled, systematic observation.

-Problem with these 5 ways is that there is no way to resolve differences or disagreements between those who have dad different experiences or believe in different religions, traditions, or authorities.

-Scientific explanations differ from the other ways of knowing in several ways:

1) Science uses the empirical approach. Findings are based on the assumption that knowledge is best gained by direct, systematic observation.

In contrast the normative approach uses religion, tradition, or authority to answer important questions. Based on strong beliefs of what is right and wrong, and what is desirable in society.

2) Scientific knowledge is systematic and public. The procedures used by scientists are organized, public, and recognized by other scientists. Replication important.

3) Science has a built-in mechanism for self-correction. They develop hypotheses-tentative statements of the relationship between two or more concepts or variables. Subject to verification.

4) Science is objective-scientists try to ensure that their biases and values do not affect their research. In the social sciences things are not always clear because of the many variables and complete objectivity is not possible.

Descriptive studies: attempt to describe social reality or provide facts about some group, practice, or event. Designed to find out what is happening to whom, where, and when. Canadian Census an example

Explanatory studies: attempt to explain relationships and to provide information on why certain events do or do not occur.

The Theory and Research Cycle:

Deductive vs. Inductive approach.

Deductive- The researcher begins with a theory and uses research to test the theory. Begins with a theory which leads to a hypothesis; hypothesis lead to observations (data gathering), observations lead to the formation of generalizations, generalizations are used to support the theory, suggest modifications or to refute it.

Inductive – The researcher collects information or data and then generates theories from the analysis of that data. Specific observations suggest generalizations, generalizations produce tentative theory, theory tested through formation of hypothesis, hypothesis may provide suggestions for additional observations.

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research Processes:

Qualitative-Interpretive descriptive instead of statistics is used to analyze underlying meanings and patterns of social relationships.

Quantitative- Goal is scientific objectivity focusing on data that can be measured numerically.

Quantitative Model:

1) Select and Define research problem

2) Review Previous Research

3) Formulate the hypothesis if applicable

          i) What are the essential variables

          ii) What are the relations between them

4) Develop the research design

5) Collect and analyze the data

6) Draw conclusions and Report Findings

Qualitative Research Model:

Uses the same underlying logic as quantitative.

Qualitative is used when research question does not easily lend itself to numbers and statistical methods.

Involves a different type of question and fewer respondents.

1) Problem formulation-clarifies research question and formulate appropriate questions

2) Collect and analyze data to assess validity of the proposition; typically gathered in natural settings. Researcher plays a background role.

Key differences:

-Researcher begins with a general approach rather than a highly detailed plan. Flexibility a key.

-Researcher has to decide when the literature review and theory application should take place

-The study presents a detailed view of the topic. Uses a smaller number of cases and has many variables.

Research Methods:

Experiment-is carefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects’ attitudes or behavaiour.

Conventional approach uses an experimental group-exposed to independent variable and a control group-not exposed to independent variable

Advantages of the experimental approach is the researcher’s control over the environment and the ability to isolate the experimental variable. Best way of testing cause-effect relationships.

Typically require little time, money and can be conducted with limited number of participants.

Easy to replicate.

Limitations include the fact that experiments are artificial. Rigid control and manipulation of variables. Also rely on volunteers. Limited in scope as only small number of variables can be manipulated.

Survey: A number of respondents are asked identical questions through a systematic questionnaire or interview.

Questionnaire-is a research instrument containing a series of items to which individuals respond. Can be administered in a variety of ways; face to face, telephone, mail, internet

Self-administered are simple and easy to administer but have a very low response rate.

Sampling considerations: researchers begin by identifying the population they want to study. They then determine an appropriate representative sample.

          Population-those persons about whom we want to be able to draw conclusions.

          Sample- the people who are selected from the population to be studied.

          Representative sample-a selection from a larger population that has the essential characteristics of the total population.

          -Random sample-is chosen by chance; every member of an entire population has the same chance of being selected.

Secondary Analysis of Existing Data: Researchers are using existing material and analyze data originally collected by others

Benefits: readily available, inexpensive to obtain, easier to analyze longitudinal data

Problems: data may be incomplete, inauthentic, or inaccurate. Methodology may be a problem

Field Research: Study of social life in its natural setting; observing and interviewing people where they live, work and play. Ex. In the recent tsunami in Indonesia sociologists may go to the scene of the tragedy and observe the interactions of the people affected by the tragedy.

A study of strip dancers may involve the researcher taking on the role of a stripper and  interacting with the patrons and speaking with the strippers as if she were a genuine stripper.

Observation: Sociologists may use either:

Complete observation- the researcher systematically observes a social process but does not participate in it. For example if a vice-principal comes into a class to observe the class and sits quietly in the back of the room and takes notes.

Participant observation- collecting systematic observations while being part of the activities of the group they are studying. In this case the vice-principal would walk around the classroom and speak and/or interact with the students and teacher.

Often in a participant observation the researcher must decide whether to let the people know they are being studied-stripper scenario above.

 Case Studies: Most participant observation research takes the form of a case study, an in-depth, multifaceted investigation of a single event, person, or social grouping. Usually involve more than one method of research.

Unstructured Interview: is an extended, open-ended interaction between an interviewer and an interviewee- does not have a specific set of questions that must be asked. Often takes the form of a conversation. Still need some “lead in” questions to get started

Ethical Issues in Sociological Research:

Researchers now required to weigh the societal benefits of research against the potential physical and emotional cost to participants. Researchers are required to obtain written “informed consent” statements from persons being studied

Basic Standards:

- Participation must be voluntary

- Researchers must not harm the research subject in any way.

- Researchers must respect the rights of research subjects to anonymity and confidentiality

-Researchers must endeavor to maintain objectivity and integrity in their research findings in full and include all possible interpretations of the data

-Researchers must acknowledge research collaboration and assistance they receive from others and disclose all sources of financial support

Look at Humphreys Research  

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis.cfm

http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/gensci/sociology/section12.php

Chapter #3 Culture

KeyTerms and Concepts:

Terms:

Culture

Reflex

Drives

Material Culture

Technology

Nonmaterial Culture

Cultural Universals

Symbols

Language

Values

Value Contradictions

Ideal Culture

Real Culture

Norms

Sanctions

Prescriptive and ProscriptiveNorms

Formal and Informal Norms

Folkways

Mores

Taboos

Laws

Popular Culture

Fads

Fashions

Discovery

Invention

Diffusion

Cultural Imperialism

Cultural Lag

Cultural Diversity

Homogenous Societies

Heterogeneous Societies

Subcultures

Countercultures

Culture Shock

Ethnocentrism

Cultural Relativism

Xenocentrism

Why is it becoming increasinglynecessary to understand other cultures?

How important is culture in oureveryday lives?

Refer to the following quote toexplain why culture is fundamental for the survival of societies;”culture isthe common denominator that makes the actions of individuals intelligible tothe group.”

Nature vs Nurture

Instincts vs Reflexes

Cultural Tool Kit

Importance of material cultureand nonmaterial culture

Positive and Negative impact ofcultural universals

Identify and explain the fourmajor components of nonmaterial culture

Be able to give examples of valuecontradictions in our society and examples of ideal culture vs real culture.

The role and value of norms insociety

The role of folkways in societyas well as problems they may present

Be able to give examples of moresand taboos

Differentiate between popular andhigh culture in Canadian society and the role they play

The role of fads and fashion inCanadian society.

Be able to explain the quote onpage 83; “Cultures do not generally remain static.” Be able to give examples ofthe forces that cause change.

Explain why culture can be aunifying force in a society but also a negative factor.

Cultural diversity in Canada

Differentiate between subculturesand countercultures and give examples

The role of culture shock,ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism in our society