anthropologi and sociology assigment

8/14/2019 Anthropologi and Sociology Assigment

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INTRODUCTION TO

SOCIOLOGYSOCI 1301

Text: Macionis, John J., Society: TheBasics

Instructor

Emeka Ohagi, Ph.D.


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CHAPTER 1

SOCIOLOGY

Perspective, Theory, andMethod


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Whatis Sociology? The systematic study of human society. The systematic study of human social

interaction. The systematic study of social and

physical environments and their effectson our experience and behavior as

individuals.Highlights:

-Systematic study

-Humans (as individuals and as members of society)-Environment


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The SociologicalPerspective

This is a distinctive point of view at thecore of the discipline of Sociology.

Seeing the general in the particular Peter Berger (sociology helps us see thegeneral patterns in the behavior of particularpeople).

Seeing the strange in the particular (we come to experience the variations that existin society).

Seeing individuality in social context

(social forces are at work in society to influenceour most personal actions) _Emile Durkheim.


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Benefits of the

Sociological Perspective

Helps us critically assess commonsense

ideas. Reveals the opportunities and constraints

in our lives. Empowers us to be active participants in

our society (identifying social forces andunderstanding their consequences).

Helps us live in a diverse world by

facilitating a critical assessment of our


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What Sociologists Do-Applied Sociology

Shaping public policy and law Various professional fields

Advertising, Banking, Criminal Justice,Education, Government, Healthcare, PublicRelations and Research

Other areas of concentration--Clinical Sociology (focuses on a persons web of

social relationships)-Evaluation research


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A Global Perspective

-The study of the larger world and oursocietys place in it.

Where we live makes a great deal ofdifference.

Societies throughout the world areincreasingly interconnected (the globalvillageconcept).

Many social problems that we face in theUS are far more serious elsewhere.

Thinking globally helps us learn more


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Science and Sociology

The early thinkers were fascinated by the natureof human society and were more interested inconceiving an ideal society rather thananalyzing it as it was.

The founding fathers of Sociology, on the otherhand cared about how it can be improved.

The name Sociology was coined by AugusteComte (a French thinker). He saw Sociology as

the product of a three-stage historicaldevelopment: Theological stage (religious: responding to the

supernatural) Metaphysical stage (natural rather than supernatural)

Scientific stage (explicable science)


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Sociological Theory

Theory-- a statement of how and why specific facts arerelated.

Theoretical Approach

- A basic image of society that guidesthinking and research.

-3 Major theoretical approaches in

Sociology:-Structural-Functional approach

-Social-Conflict approach

-Symbolic-Interaction approach

Th St t l F ti l


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The Structural-FunctionalApproach

-A framework for building theorythat sees society as a complexsystem whose parts work together

to promote solidarity and stability. Emphasizes the importance of: Social Structure(any relatively stable

pattern of social behavior). Social Functions (the consequences of

any social pattern for the operation ofsociety as a whole).

(Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, HerbertSpencer, Robert Merton)


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Social Functions

- These are the consequences of anysocial pattern for the operation ofsociety.

Robert Merton Manifest Functions recognized and

intended functions of any social pattern. Latent Functions unrecognized and

unintended consequences of any socialpattern.

Social Dysfunctions any social patternthat may disrupt the operation of society.


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ruc ura - unc onaapproach:

- A critique: Its vision of society as stable and

orderly ignores the inequalities of

social class, race, ethnicity andgender that generate tension andconflict.

The above led to the developmentof the Social-Conflict approachwhich sees society as an arena of

inequality that generates conflict


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e oc a - on cApproach

- A framework for building theory that sees societyas an arena of inequality that generates conflictand change.

Highlights conflict and inequality.This perspective helps sociologists to investigate

how factors such as race, gender, ethnicity, classand age are linked to unequal distribution of

money, power, education and social prestige. (W.E. B. Du Bois, Karl Marx)

It is applied in the analysis of ongoing conflictsbetween dominant and disadvantaged categories

of people:-rich and oor men and women em lo ers and em lo ees.


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Reflection:

Why do certain social patterns favorsome people while depriving others?


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Social-Conflict Approach-A critical review

-ignores the influence of sharedvalues and interdependence in

promoting unity.

-lacks scientific objectivity.

-takes society in broad strokes whilelosing sight of the individual (macro-level).

d i l


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Macro and Micro-LevelAnalyses

The Structural-Functional and theSocial-Conflict approaches share a

macro-level orientation. Macro-level orientation:a broad focus

on social structures that shape society as a whole.

Micro-level orientation:a close-upfocus on social interaction in specific situations.


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Approach- A Micro-level orientation.

- A framework for building theory thatsees society as the product of theeveryday interactions of individuals.

Basic Assumptions: Human beings live in a world of symbols

and attach meaning to virtually everything.

Reality is how we define our surroundings,our duties towards others, and even our

own identities.


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Symbolic-Interaction-A critical review

-By concentrating on the individual,it loses sight of the influence of

culture and social factors (class,gender, race etc).

Summary:

A combination of all threeapproaches will yield a better

understanding of society.


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Scientific Sociology

Science a logical system thatbases knowledge on direct,

systematic observation. Emphasizes the importance of empirical

evidence information we can verify withour senses.

Widely held attitudes can becontradicted or supported byscientific evidence.


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Concepts Variables Measurement

Concept: a mental construct thatrepresents some part of the worldin a simplified form.


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Variable a concept whose valuechanges from case to case (price,

income, age etc).

Measurement a procedure for

determining the value of a variablein a specific case.


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Operationalization of variables specifying exactly what is being measured.

Descriptive statistics-Mean

-Median

-Mode

Reliability consistency in measurement Validity precision in measuring exactly what one

intends to measure


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Scientific Sociology Correlation (when 2 or more variables change

together)

Cause and Effect a relationship in which change inone variable causes change in another.

Independent variable the causal factor Dependent variable the effect Spurious correlation false correlation. When

two variables change but neither one causes the other.

The Ideal of Objectivity allowingthe facts to speak for themselves

Highlights: 1.Personal neutrality 2. Value-free research

Interpreti e


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InterpretiveSociology

-The study of society that focuseson the meanings people attach to

their social world.Basic principles:-centered around meanings

-sees reality constructed by people in the

course of interaction-favors qualitative data

Advantages:

-suited for studies in natural settings where

interactions take place


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Critical Sociology

-A study of society that focuses on the needfor social change.

-.

Assumptions: Studying the world as it is, is not enough. Change is

needed. All research is political (it either calls for change or it does

not)

-Sociologists can choose which positions to support

-This is an activist approach that seeks to tie knowledge toaction

In sum:Critical sociology appeals to people with liberal and radical-


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- Principles and Practice of Social

Research Research EthicsGuidelines from American Sociological

Association (ASA)

Competence and fairness Disclosure of findings/sources of

funding Safety of research subjects (terminate study

if subject is at risk; obtain informed consent form). IRBrequirements by Federal govt.

Avoid conflict of interest Consider global variations take note of

cultural variations to avoid violations of privacy;


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Gender and Research

How does gender affect research? Androcentricity and

Gynocentricity Over-generalizing Gender blindness Double standards Interference


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Research Methods

A research method is a systematic planfor conducting research.

Methods:Testing a Hypothesis the experiment

Asking questions the survey In the field participant observation Using Available Data existing sources


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(contd)

Survey A research method in whichsubjects respond to a series of questions

in a questionnaire or an interview.-Population a category of interest(College students)

-Sample a much smaller number ofsubjects selected to represent thepopulation.


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SURVEYQuestionnaire:-researcher lets subjects

choose possible answers.Advantages

Less cost intensive

Ideal for large populationsNon-obtrusive

Ensures confidentiality (privacy)

Disadvantages

High non-response rates

Increases likelihood ofmisinterpretation

Does not encourage follow-up or

INTERVIEW


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INTERVIEW

Interview:-researcher personally asks thequestions.

Advantages

Reduces non-response rateOffers subjects the freedom to express

themselvesEncourages follow-up questions

Allows researcher to probe deeperReduces incidence of question

misinterpretation.Disadvantages

Face to face contact may influence responseMore expensive and more time consuming

R h M th d


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Research Methods(contd)

Participant observation

Systematically observing people while joiningthem in their routine activities.

Advantages:-Offers a natural setting

-Flexibility

-Insiders viewpoint

-Non obtrusiveDisadvantages:

-Memory lapse

-Familiarity could lead to a loss of focus

-Time consuming

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Existing Data Sources-Secondary Data

-Use of existing data collected byothers to perform research.

Sources:Government agencies (US Census Bureau)

Non-governmental organizations (United Nations)

Research companies (Macro International Inc.)

Benefits:Saves time and money

Provides reliable data with relative ease


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Putting It All Together

Ten Steps in Sociological Research What is your topic? What have others already learned? What, exactly are your questions? What will you need to carry out research? Are there ethical concerns? What method will you use? How will you record the data? What do the data tell you? What are your conclusions? How can you share what you have learned?

anthropologi and sociology assigment

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