Soc Ch 1 notes
- 1. SOC Ch. 1 Notes
- 2. Case Study: Street Science Sudhir Venkatesh studied the social life of a public housing project in Chicago. He discovered that the community sustained itself “off the books” and that it had its own set of rules and behavior. Venkatesh became closely involved with a gang leader of the project and used this closeness to further study the rules of the community. His book Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor presented poverty in a more realistic light than previous studies.
- 5. Section 1 at a Glance Examining Social Life • The social sciences are disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific manner. Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior. • The sociological perspective is a way of looking at the world that enables sociologists to see beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions.
- 6. Why are so many Americans getting tattoos?
- 7. Sociology and Other Social Sciences The social sciences are disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and the functions of human society in a scientific manner. • Sociology – Sociology studies human society and social behavior through social interaction and social phenomena • Anthropology – Anthropology is the comparative study of past and present cultures • Psychology – Psychology studies behavior and mental processes; social psychology studies how social environment affects an individual
- 8. Sociology and Other Social Sciences • Economics – Economics studies choices people make to satisfy their needs and wants • Political Science – Political science studies principles, organization, and operation of government • History – History studies people and events of the past
- 10. Thinking Like a Sociologist Sociological Perspective Sociological Imagination • Looking at social life in a scientific, systematic way • Ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life • Looking beyond commonly held beliefs • Trying to find patterns • Seeing the relations between impersonal and intimate features of human life
- 11. Section 2 at a Glance The Development of Sociology • Social upheaval in Europe during the late 1700s and 1800s encouraged scholars to closely study society. • European scholars such as Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber made important contributions to the development of the academic discipline of sociology. • The Chicago School of sociologists introduced new ways to analyze society.
- 12. How did one early sociologist view the problem of poverty?
- 13. The Development of Sociology • Political changes – Focus on individual liberty and rights – American and French Revolutions • Social changes – Growth of cities – Housing shortages – Crime and pollution increased • Economic changes – Industrial Revolution – Growth of cities
- 14. Early European Scholars Auguste Comte Harriet Martineau • Considered the founder of sociology • Reviewed life in the United States • Studied social order and social change • Translated Comte’s work Herbert Spencer Karl Marx • Compared society to a biological organism • Linked societal conditions to the economy • Helped create social Darwinism • Believed economic imbalance would lead to conflict
- 19. Later European Scholars Émile Durkheim • Developed first sociology class in France • Systematically applied the methods of science • Viewed segments of society by their function • Particularly interested in the role of religion Max Weber • Interested in certain groups instead of an entire society • Used the idea of Verstehen to understand the actions of individuals • Used the idea of ideal type to understand the goals of a society
- 22. American Scholars The University of Chicago department of sociology became known for a certain set of sociological theories, as well as the idea that sociologists should look for solutions to social problems. Jane Addams W.E.B. Du Bois • Opened a settlement house in Chicago • Published a series of surveys about the problems of the urban poor • Not taken seriously as a sociologist • Took an approach similar to the Chicago School • Examined life in African American neighborhoods • Encouraged scholars to examine the problems of race
- 25. Reading Check Summarize What was the Chicago School’s approach to studying society? Answer: that the study of society should include practical solutions to identified social problems
- 26. Section 3 at a Glance Modern Perspectives • Sociology employs three major theoretical perspectives— functionalism, conflict, and interactionism. • The functionalist perspective focuses on order and stability, the conflict perspective focuses on power relations, and the interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another in everyday life. • Sociologists employ two levels of analysis: macrosociology, which focuses on large-scale systems or society as a whole, and microsociology, which focuses on small-group settings.
- 27. Modern Perspectives Main Idea Sociology employs three major theoretical perspectives— functionalism, which focuses on order and stability; conflict, which focuses on power relations; and interactionism, which focuses on how individuals interact with one another in everyday life. Reading Focus • In what ways do the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology differ in their focus? • How do the three theoretical perspectives differ in terms of their levels of analysis?
- 28. How do sociologists view what goes on in your school?
- 29. Major Theoretical Perspectives Sociologists use theories to describe the relationships among different elements of society. A theoretical perspective is a group of such theories. Three major theoretical perspectives form the basis of modern sociology.
- 30. Functionalist Perspective View of society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system • Dysfunction – A negative consequence of an element of society • Manifest function – The intended and recognized consequence of an element of society • Latent function – Unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element of society
- 31. Conflict Perspective • Conflict perspective – Focuses on elements that create competition and change • Feminist perspective – A version of the conflict perspective that describes inequalities based on gender Interactionist Perspective • Interactionist perspective – Focuses on the interaction of individuals with each other • Symbol – Anything that represents something else • Symbolic interaction – Using symbols while interacting with others
- 32. Click on the image to play the Interactive.
- 33. Reading Check Summarize What are the three sociological perspectives and on what does each perspective focus? Answer: functionalist—how the set of interrelated parts of society work together to produce a stable social system; conflict—the forces in society that promote competition and change; interactionist—the interactions of individuals in society
- 34. Levels of Analysis • Macrosociology • The study of large-scale systems or societies as a whole • The study of long-term problems • Microsociology • The study of small-group settings • The study of everyday interactions among group members • Globalization • A process of creating a world-wide system of interactions, larger than any one society
- 35. Reading Check Contrast What is the difference between macrosociology and microsociology? Answer: Macrosociology looks at large-scale systems or society as a whole; microsociology looks at small-group settings and the everyday face-to-face interactions among group members
- 36. Current Research in Sociology The Spread of Hip-Hop Global interactions are a new topic of study for sociologists. Studying the spread of hip-hop music reveals aspects of global interactions. • Hip-hop began as a movement among American youth. • Local youths have put their own spin on the music. • Hip-hop has spread to all points of the globe along with movies, sports, and fashion. • Some consider hip-hop to be the sound of the world’s streets. • Big business has spread aspects of the hip-hop lifestyle, but adherents understand it as a method to question mainstream values.
- 39. Thinking Critically • Why do some sociologists consider hip-hop a global youth movement? • Many studies of cultural spread suggest that American culture often overpowers local culture. Why does the spread of hiphop not fit this description?
- 40. Section 4 at a Glance Conducting Sociological Research • Sociologists employ a seven-step process when they conduct research. • Research approaches available to sociologists include survey, analysis of existing documents, observation, and experiment.
- 41. Conducting Sociological Research Main Idea Sociologists use several approaches to conducting research. Regardless of the approaches they use, all sociologists follow a seven-step research process. Reading Focus • What are the seven steps in the research process? • How do sociologists uncover causation and correlation? • What basic research methods do sociologists employ? • How do ethical issues affect sociological research?
- 42. How do sociologists conduct research?
- 43. The Research Process Sociologists use the scientific method to conduct their research. Scientific Method The scientific method is an objective, logical, and systematic way of collecting and analyzing data. A hypothesis is a statement that predicts what the outcome of an experiment will be.
- 45. Reading Check Sequence What are the seven steps in the research process? Answer: define the problem, review the literature, form a hypothesis, choose a research design, collect the data, analyze the data, present conclusions
- 46. Causation and Correlation Causation Correlation • Every event has at least one cause. • Correlation is the first step in proving causation. • Variables, or traits, of a social group help determine why an event occurs the way it does. • Causal relationships exist when a change in one variable causes change in another variable. • Independent variables cause changes in dependent variables. • A correlation exists when a change in one variable is regularly associated with a change in another variable. • Correlations can have a causal relationship or not. Evidence of a correlation is not evidence of a causation.
- 48. Reading Check Contrast How do positive correlations and negative correlations differ? Answer: positive—both variables change at the same time; negative—variables change in opposite directions
- 49. Basic Research Methods Survey • Survey method is used for large numbers of people • Researchers use questionnaires and interviews • The data available in a short amount of time • The answers may not be accurate • Researchers use samples, or small groups Analysis of Existing Sources • Historical method uses information from the past • Content analysis counts uses of words or symbols
- 50. Observational Studies • Researchers watch people in detached observation. • Researchers become part of the group being studied in participant observation. • A case study uses information gathered during observation. Experiments • In an experiment, the data is gathered under controlled conditions. • Researchers use a control group and an experimental group. • Information gathered is somewhat limited because of the controlled conditions.
- 51. Statistical Analysis • Researchers use mathematical data. • Statistical analysis is the analyzing of collected data to determine the kind of relationship between two or more variables. • The mode is the most common number in the data. • The mean is the average of the numbers in the data. • The median is the number that divides the data into two equal parts.
- 54. Reading Check Summarize What research approaches might a case study employ? Answer: surveys, observation, analysis of existing sources, and experiments employing statistical analysis
- 55. Ethical Issues in Research • Specific rules set by the American Sociological Association • Rules focus on: – Confidentiality – Deception – Informed consent • Must protect the rights of subjects
- 56. Reading Check Find the Main Idea What ethical issues do sociological researchers face? Answer: confidentiality, the possible use of deception, and informed consent
- 57. Lab: Applying What You’ve Learned Who’s at Your Table How different does your life appear when you view it through the eyes of a sociologist? 1. Introduction 2. Conducting Your Observation • In this lab, you will undertake • Observe the people at your table observational research of social in the school cafeteria. interactions at your lunch table. • Study the dynamics of the • Carefully observe the people at situation. the table in an objective way. • Write a brief essay describing the social interactions you observed.
- 58. Lab (cont.) 3. Discussion and Evaluation • Hold a group discussion in which you describe your experience as an observer. Was it difficult to observe and not participate? • What kind of observations did you and your classmates make? • Were your observations similar or different than those of your classmates? • What other groups would be interesting to observe?