Research Methods in H.S. Sociology: Lessons from the Bay Area http://bit.ly/NCSS-Soc Charles Schallhorn Mountain House High School Mountain House, CA Twitter: @MtnHousePsych

Special Thanks to the American Sociological Association For Bringing Us These Sociology Sessions Dr. Margaret Vitullo Director, Academic & Professional Affairs Dr. Jean Shin Director, Minority & Student Affairs

WAIT!! Methodology is NOT sexy I have to sell my course—it’s an elective BUT Teaching the science of sociology is a primary aspect of the field National standards stand one along with perspectives Some fun but informative activities

Standards As Guides The Sociology National Standards

Challenge of Teaching Sociology in HS Topics can controversial How controversy plays in our communities We cannot be as bold as our college counterparts Sociological thinking is our most important gift A new set of lenses

Crash Course: Sociology Sociology & the Scientific Method: Crash Course Sociology #3 Sociology Research Methods: Crash Course Sociology #4

Scientific Methods How can we best demonstrate the scientific nature of Sociology? Here are some sample activities you can use

Yardstick/Ruler Demo Do with two audience members Questioning methods Critical thinking about research and headlines

Unobtrusive measures are measures that don't require the researcher to intrude in the research context. Direct and participant observation require that the researcher be physically present. This can lead the respondents to alter their behavior in order to look good in the eyes of the researcher.

Observations Important to operationally define terms Focus on behavior, NOT inferences May need to teach Infer versus Imply Imply is done by sender of message Infer is done by receiver of message E.g. Joey on Friends, “How you doin’?”

Observation v Inference Video and Activity This video describes the difference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-5HCOUGDdg

Observation v Inference Video and Activity Whodunnit--great example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7V_vaY9Bdk Without sound—what do you see? What interpretations are students making?

Source: https://kamerlingd. files. wordpress

Some Borrowed Images Hannah Kilmister Science Blog http://hannakilmister.blogspot.com/2016/03/observations-and-inferences-on-these-6.html Two lists with each image What can you describe? What can you infer?

What can you describe? What can you infer?

What can you describe? What can you infer?

Daily Lives: Observation v Inference When a friend passes us in the hall without saying hello Person driving/cutting us off--we often infer

Operationalizing Terms Agreeing on how to define terms

Operationalizing Terms Too often, sociology is not seen as scientific Sociology is harder than “real” science Operational definitions —putting terms/concepts in ways that can be observed and measured

Class Discussion Define Reality is complex Group Poverty Gender Discrimination Culture Middle Class Reality is complex

Operational Definitions Examining Smiles Activity by Rob MacEntarffer https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LLfEMcSu6t4uWE0Mz75EUD9sD4bnftyxgolx7a9pg38/edit?usp=sharing

Legos Activity Legos Activity by David Duez Made for psychology but the principles are the same

School Culture: An Exercise in Observation Class is in small groups (ideally 4x) Each group makes a list of “groups” in your school Each group will have a list of defining characteristics—”how do we know?” Large group share out—what issues does each group have with the various categories? As a class, determine operational definitions of each group at school

School Culture: An Exercise in Observation Distribute a map of the cafeteria or school Teach to be unobtrusive Observe during lunch—place group names on map Each group shares what they came up with Examine discrepancies Challenges of and importance of defining terms

Surveys: Doing Sociology Required Background Reading for Kids Guidelines for Surveys https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/survey-guidelines/ How to write a great survey http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Soc_survey.shtml

Surveys: Doing Sociology Public School Limitations—Class Only Best in a 1:1 or a lab environment Students with Partners—topics of interest Choose topic—no repeats—sign up Teacher can veto topics Use Google Forms for Product

Surveys: Doing Sociology May need to teach students: How to use google forms How to create survey questions Can show bad survey questions

Surveys: Doing Sociology With Partner Choose a topic One of you opens a google form Share it with partner AND teacher Work on Closed-Ended Questions about your topic Max of 7 questions in survey Get feedback from teacher and peers

Surveys: Doing Sociology Get Feedback Have at least three people not in your group examine your questions to see if the questions make sense and fit what your topic is Do you have demographic info, e.g. age, sex, grade, etc.

Surveys: Doing Sociology Teacher has Google Form to collect URLs of all the class surveys—shares it to link surveys so everyone can take all surveys Every student takes everyone one of the surveys

Surveys: Doing Sociology With data, each partnership writes up results and conclusions Lots of teacher guidance with this section Students will have learned a great sense of what it takes to properly do a survey

Resources American Sociological Association Resources for High School Sociology http://sociologysal.blogspot.com/ http://teachinghighschoolsociology.blogspot.com/ Facebook Groups HS Teachers of Sociology Sociology Teachers Teaching With a Sociological Lens    

ASA/TRAILS for Additional Ideas Join the American Sociological Association View the Trails Files for Excellent Teaching Ideas

Contact Me http://bit.ly/NCSS-Soc Charles Schallhorn Mountain House High School Mountain House, CA cschallhorn@lammersvilleusd.net https://twitter.com/MtnHousePsych http://teachinghighschoolsociology.blogspot.com/