Transcript Document

Foundations of Sociological Inquiry
Sociology 300
Today’s Objectives





How to Become A Practicing Social Scientist
Observe, Analyze, Interpret
The Foundations of Social Science
Syllabus and Course Objectives
Questions
Set up Clicker Technology



Becky Plugs in Receiver & Sets Channel to 05
Becky Sets Up Web-Based Session
Students with Clicker Set Channel to 05


Ch; 05; Ch
Students with Wireless Device Login to
www.rwpoll.com

Enter Session ID
This is a Test
Sociology 300 is a required course for
Sociology Majors?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Don’t Know
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
0%
3
30
Let’s Flip a Coin (1)
What was the result of your coin drop?
1.
2.
Heads
Tails
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
30
Let’s Flip a Coin (10)
What was the result of your coin drop?
1.
2.
Heads
Tails
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
30
Let’s Flip a Coin (185)
What was the result of your coin drop?
1.
2.
Heads
Tails
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
30
Observe, Analyze, Interpret

What happened when you let go of the coin?
Observe, Analyze, Interpret


What happened when you let go of the coin?
Why did that happen?
Observe, Analyze, Interpret



What happened when you let go of the coin?
Why did that happen?
What will happen the next time you drop a coin?
Observe, Analyze, Interpret




What happened when you let go of the coin?
Why did that happen?
What will happen the next time you drop a coin?
How do you know?
Observe, Analyze, Interpret





What happened when you let go of the coin?
Why did that happen?
What will happen the next time you drop a coin?
How do you know?
Are there exceptions?
The Foundations of Social Science

The foundations of social science are logic and
observation (What).

Theory provides a systematic explanation for the
observations that relate to a particular aspect of life
(Why).
The Foundations of Social Science

Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain
Social Regularities

If you drop a coin it will fall



What happens on the moon?
In a zero gravity chamber?
If there is a magnetic device nearby?
The Foundations of Social Science

Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain
Social Regularities

If you drop a coin it will fall




What happens on the moon?
In a zero gravity chamber?
If there is a magnetic device nearby?
The coin will land heads or tails up

What if the coin is weighted?
The Foundations of Social Science

Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain
Social Regularities

If you drop a coin it will fall




The coin will land heads or tails up


What happens on the moon?
In a zero gravity chamber?
If there is a magnetic device nearby?
What if the coin is weighted?
Under repeated sampling (If we drop the coin many, many
times) we begin to establish regularities




What happens when you only drop the coin 1 time?
10 times?
185 times?
185 * 100 times?
What do Sociologists Study?








Birthrates, Deathrates, Migration
Marriage, Divorce, Childbearing
War, Peace
Political Behavior, Social Movements
Crime, Criminal Justice, the Courts
Organizational Behavior
Economic Inequality, Employment
Education
Syllabus and Course Objectives

http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c
lasspage.asp?cid=2101
Syllabus and Course Objectives

http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c
lasspage.asp?cid=2101

Observe, ask, collect, record
Analyze
Interpret


Syllabus and Course Objectives

http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c
lasspage.asp?cid=2101

Observe, ask, collect, record
Analyze
Interpret



Learn how to ask a sociological question, identify
data to answer the question, analyze data, present
your findings, and situate your findings in relation to
what we think we already know
Have you ever played an instrument?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Don’t Know
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
0%
3
30
If you answered yes to the previous
question, How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
1.
2.
3.
Take the Q train to
Lincoln Center
Take a Taxi to
Times Square
Practice
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
2
0%
3
30
How do you become a social scientist?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
0%
0 of 30
1
0%
0%
2
3
0%
0%
4
5
30
Questions?