Transcript Sociology

Sociology
What is it?
 Formal definition: a social science which studies
human society and recognizes fact patterns as the key
to explaining and predicting human behavior.
 Informal definition: the study of group behavior and
interaction.
How is it done?
 Sociology focuses on the group, not the individual
 It also focuses on society’s influence on you, rather
than your free will/brain
2 Singers, 1 Song
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FOR EACH SONG:
1. When do you think this song was performed?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe the
singer’s voice/tone/emotions etc.
3. What do you believe is the singer’s race?
AFTER LISTENING TO BOTH SONGS:
1. What event were both songs talking about?
2. What explains why the versions were so different?
Song #1
 2012
 Nostalgic, upbeat
 Sam Doores, Riley Downing & the
Tumbleweeds. Sam Doores is a white
musician from New Orleans.
Song #2
 1968
 Sad, angry, frustrated, hopeless, bleak,
overwhelmed
 Abner Jay (1932-1993). Abner was an
African-American descended from
American slaves.
Sociological Perspective
 Definition: Looking at social life in a scientific way,
which allows you to look beyond commonly held beliefs
to the hidden meaning behind human actions.
 List 5 things a sociologist would be interested in (using
his/her sociological imagination) at a PHS football
game.
 List 5 things a sociologist would be interested in when
looking around an emergency room.
PHS Football Game
 Races playing v. watching
 Ages of participants and those of fans
 Which ages are watching v. socializing
 Hair color of cheerleaders
 Who is eating? What are they eating?
 How are fans dressed – age, race, gender
 Who leads the cheers in the stands? How was he/she
chosen?
 GPA of band v. players

Emergency Room
 Age, race, gender, and education level of doctors,
nurses, orderlies, and patients
 Severity/type of injury – age, race, gender, wealth
 Emotional responses of patients – age, race, gender
 Reaction to doctors and nurses – age, race, gender
 Terminology used by doctors, nurses, and patients
 Communication styles between doctors, nurses, and
patients
Sociological Imagination
 Definition: the ability to see personal experiences in
the context of social forces.
 ADOPTING A SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION IS THE
GOAL OF THIS COURSE!
The Research Process
 7 Steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Define the problem
Review the literature
Form a hypothesis
Choose a research design – Develop a plan
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Present conclusions
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Durkheim wanted to study the effect of social integration
on suicide rates among various groups of individuals.
To do this, he had to find a way to make suicide and
social integration measurable.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 2: REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
Durkheim read literature of how other researchers
explained the phenomenon. He also read available
statistics. This allowed him to dismiss psychological
explanations to focus on sociological ones.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 3: FORMING A HYPOTHESIS
Durkheim hypothesized that suicide rates within groups
vary inversely with the degree to which group members
are integrated into society.
What does that mean?
The more family, religious, and community bonds group
members have, the less likely they are to commit suicide.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 4: CHOOSING A RESEARCH DESIGN
Research design = a plan for collecting, analyzing, and
evaluating data.
Durkheim analyzed official suicide records from various
European nations.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 5: COLLECTING THE DATA
Must be carefully and accurately recorded.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 6: ANALYZING THE DATA
Durkheim found that rates differed for groups in society.
Single people commit suicide more than married people
with kids.
Protestants commit suicide more than Catholics.
Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 7: PRESENT CONCLUSIONS
Durkheim confirms that his hypothesis was correct, that
suicide rates vary inversely with the degree of social
integration.
Sociologists then present their findings in professional
journals, scholarly books, and at professional meetings.
5 Research Methods
1. Survey
1.
2.
Questionnaires
Interviews
2. Analysis of Existing Sources
1.
2.
Historical method
Content analysis
3. Observational Studies – Watch out for the guinea pig effect!
1.
2.
3.
Detached observation
Participant observation
Case Study
4. Experiments
5. Statistical Analysis