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?
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No
Don’t Know
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Let’s Flip a Coin (1)
What was the result of your coin drop?
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Let’s Flip a Coin (10)
What was the result of your coin drop?
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Let’s Flip a Coin (185)
What was the result of your coin drop?
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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?
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If you answered yes to the previous
question, How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
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Take the Q train to
Lincoln Center
Take a Taxi to
Times Square
Practice
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How do you become a social scientist?
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Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice
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Questions?