Research……The nitty gritty!!! Sociology - Unit II Research……The nitty gritty!!!

Basics…… Investigation is the key to learning about many facets of society Two requirements: Apply & ask questions

Apply the sociological perspective Reveals curious patterns of behavior in order to decide what to study

Be curious and ask questions….. The only way to find the information you need to start your investigation is to ask questions

Investigations lead to various truths……. “Belief/faith” truth A belief in something but no direct contact with this belief. Recognized expert truth Finding the information through experts in the field (people, Internet, etc) Simple agreement truth An idea that is grounded in an agreement among groups of people but no actual “evidence”. Scientific truth Evidence and grounded information proven by science

Various truths are different depending on areas, situations, beliefs and scientific facts.

Science……the “logical choice” A logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation Rests on empirical evidence Information we can verify with our senses

Examples…… Tradition vs technology/science Medical research vs faith/belief Experts vs political beliefs of your family

Common Sense vs Scientific Evidence Challenge or agree with the following statements with evidence…..

“Poor people are far more likely than rich people to break the law” Challenge or agree……. “Poor people are far more likely than rich people to break the law”

False……. Television does portray “bad people live in bad neighborhoods”. Poor people stand out in the official arrest statistics Research proves that police and prosecutors are more likely to treat wealthy people with more lenience Some laws are even written in a way that criminalizes poor people more and affluent people less.

Challenge or agree…….. “The United States is a middle class society in which most people are more or less equal.”

False…… Data presented show that the richest 5% of US families control more than half the nation’s total wealth. Almost half of all families have scarcely any wealth at all.

“Most poor people don’t want to work.” Challenge or agree……… “Most poor people don’t want to work.”

False………. Research indicates that the statement is true of some but not most poor people. About half of poor individuals in the US are children and elderly people who are not expected to work.

Challenge or agree…… “Differences in the behavior of females and males are just ‘human nature’.”

False………. Much of what we call “human nature” is constructed by the society in which we live. Research argues that some societies define “feminine” and “masculine” very differently from the way we do.

Challenge or agree………. “People change as they grow old, losing many interests as they focus on their health.”

False....... Research reports that aging changes our personalities very little. Problems of health increase in old age but elderly do keep their distinctive personalities they have had throughout their adult lives.

“ Most people marry because they are in love.” Challenge or agree………. “ Most people marry because they are in love.”

False……. Not always true. Many societies may not base their marriages on love. But in our society, that is not as obvious.