Sociology Your Compass for a New World B R I E F E D I T I O N Robert J. Brym University of Toronto John Lie University of California at Berkeley

A Sociological Compass Chapter 1 A Sociological Compass

Chapter Outline Introduction The Sociological Perspective Sociological Theory and Theorists Conducting Research The Main Methods of Sociological Research A Sociological Compass

The Sociological Explanation of Suicide Émile Durkheim showed that suicide rates, are strongly influenced by social forces. Durkheim argued that suicide rates vary because of differences in the degree of social solidarity in different groups.

Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide

Durkheim’s Theory and Suicide Rates Today Suicide is most common among the divorced and widowed. Men, typically less involved in family life, are about four times more likely to commit suicide. Areas of the U.S. with high rates of church membership have low suicide rates.

Durkheim: Altruistic suicide Occurs when norms tightly govern behavior, so individual actions are often in the group interest. Example: When soldiers knowingly give up their lives to protect members of their unit.

Durkheim: Egoistic Suicide Results from a lack of integration of the individual into society because of weak social ties to others. Example: The rate of egoistic suicide is likely to be high among people who lack friends and are unmarried.

Durkheim: Anomic Suicide Occurs when norms governing behavior are vaguely defined. Example: When people live in a society lacking a widely shared code of morality, the rate of anomic suicide is likely to be high.

Suicide Rate by Sex and Age Cohort (per 100,000 people)

Levels of Social Structure Microstructures are patterns of intimate social relations. Macrostructures are patterns of social relations outside your circle of intimates and acquaintances. Global structures are international organizations, worldwide travel and communication, and economic relations between countries.

Origins of the Sociological Imagination Three revolutions pushed people to think about society in a new way: Scientific Revolution suggested that a science of society is possible. Democratic Revolution suggested people can intervene to improve society. Industrial Revolution presented social thinkers with social problems in need of a solution.

Theoretical Traditions in Sociology Main Level of Analysis Main Focus Functionalist Macro Values Conflict Inequality Symbolic Interactionist Micro Meaning Feminist Macro and Micro Patriarchy

Theoretical Traditions in Sociology Main Question Functionalist How do the institutions of society contribute to social stability? Conflict How do privileged groups maintain advantages and subordinate groups increase theirs, often causing social change in the process?

Theoretical Traditions in Sociology Main Question Symbolic Interactionist How do individuals communicate to make their social settings meaningful? Feminist Which social structures and interaction processes maintain male dominance and female subordination?

Polling Question Which sociological perspective do you feel explains the most to you about our society? Structural-functional Conflict Symbolic interactionist Feminist

Polling Question Which sociological perspective do you think is generally the weakest in explaining things in our society? Structural-functional Conflict Symbolic interactionist Feminist

The Research Cycle

The Research Cycle Formulate a research question. Review the existing research literature. Select a research method. Collect data. Analyze the data. Publicize the results.

Ethical Considerations Researchers must respect their subjects’ rights to: Safety Privacy Confidentiality Informed consent

Field Research Based on the observation of people in their natural settings. Field researchers go where people meet: Italian-American slums Intensive care unit of a major hospital Audience of a daytime TV talk show

Participant Observation Sociologists take part in the activities of the people they are studying. Allows researchers understand beliefs, values, and motives. Requires that sociologists observe their subjects from an outsider’s point of view. Tension exists between the goals of subjectivity and objectivity.

Participant Observation: Methodological Problems To accept the findings of participant-observers: We must be confident the findings extend beyond the case examined. We must be confident the interpretations are accurate. We must be confident another researcher would interpret things the same way.

Experiments A carefully controlled artificial situation that allows researchers to isolate hypothesized causes and measure effects.

Experiments Use randomization to create two similar groups. The hypothesized cause is introduced to only one of the groups. The groups are compared before and after one of the groups has been exposed to the hypothesized cause.

Steps in Experiments Selection of subjects. Random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups. Measurement of dependent variable in experimental and control groups.

Steps in Experiments Introduction of independent variable to experimental group. Remeasurement of dependent variable in experimental and control. Assessment of experimental effect.

Field Experiments Retain benefits of experimental design while overcoming validity problems. Either: Introduce the independent variable themselves. Observe what happens when the independent variable is introduced in the normal course of social life.

Surveys Three main ways of conducting a survey: self-administered questionnaire face-to-face interviews telephone interviews

Threats to Validity of Surveys Exclusion of part of the population from the sampling frame. Refusal of some people to participate in the survey. Unwillingness of some respondents to answer some questions frankly. Asking leading or confusing questions or questions that refer to multiple, unimportant, or noncurrent events.

Analysis of Existing Documents: Advantages Can save the researcher time and money because they are available in libraries or on the web. Usually cover entire populations and are collected using rigorous methods. Does not require live subjects. The researcher’s presence does not influence the subjects’ behavior.

Polling Question If you possessed the money, skill, and other necessary resources, in which one area would you like to conduct research? Racial profiling The cause(s) of sexual orientation Sexual assault and abuse The effects of divorce on children

Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methods Participant observation Strengths Researchers get “inside” the minds of their subjects and discover their worldview. Weaknesses Low reliability; not very useful for establishing cause-and- effect relationships.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methods Experiment Strengths High reliability; excellent for establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Weaknesses Low validity for many sociological problems; problems with generalizability.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methods Survey Strengths Good reliability; useful for establishing cause-and-effect relationships; good generalizability. Weaknesses Some problems with validity (but techniques exist for boosting validity).

Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methods Analysis of existing documents Strengths Often inexpensive and easy to obtain, provides good coverage; useful for historical analysis; nonreactive. Weaknesses Often contains biases reflecting the interests of their creators and not the interests of the researcher.

A Sociological Compass

Quick Quiz

1. Durkheim explained variations in the suicide rate by focusing on: a. personal troubles b. microstructures c. power social solidarity mesostructures

Answer: d Durkheim explained variations in the suicide rate by focusing on social solidarity.

2. According to Durkheim, the more a group's members share beliefs and values, and the more frequently and intensely they interact, the more social solidarity there is in a group. True False

Answer: True According to Durkheim, the more a group's members share beliefs and values, and the more frequently and intensely they interact, the more social solidarity there is in a group.

3. Sociologists call stable patterns of social relations: microstructures mesostructures macrostructures global structures social structures

Answer:e Sociologists call stable patterns of social relations social structures.

4. The main question of   _________________   theory is, how do the institutions of society contribute to social stability and instability?

Answer: functionalist The main question of functionalist theory is, how do the institutions of society contribute to social stability and instability.

5. Which of the following is usually the first step in the research cycle? selecting a research method reviewing the literature formulating a research question collecting data none of these choices

Answer: c Formulating a research question is usually the first step in the research cycle.