February 9 th Sign in & participation cards Small group work Lecture Three: Sociological Research Pass out mini-exam #1 Homework:  Review exam Syllabus changes – check website

Small Group Work: Group #1: What theoretical approach/perspective is Collins using? Why? Explain. Group #2: What type of sociological question(s) is Collins asking? Why? Explain. Group #3: What research methods does Collins use? How are these methods related to her question(s)? Group #4: Define the following concepts as used by Collins:  Commodity  Globalization  Commodity Chain  Capital Group #5: Beyond a better understanding of the apparel industry, what does Collins say this study can help us understand? How will her research be able to do this?

Lecture 3 Sociological Research: Threads

Threads: Main Research Questions What does it mean to be a worker in an industry with a global labor market? And, how (does) participating in such a labor market affect the:  social relations of work?  the organization of production?  the opportunities for negotiating with employers?  the forms of resistance that make sense?

What sociological perspective is Collins using? Conflict Theory & Political Economy Political Economy is a theoretical approach the focuses on the relations of production & consumption and how they are related to government, laws, and customs Moral Economy: social norms, values, and beliefs that shape economic behavior (Threads pg 13)  Examples: Minimum Wage & Private Property

Asking Sociological Questions Sociological Questions:  Factual  Comparative  Developmental  Theoretical What type of question is Collins asking?  All of them

How are her questions related to her theoretical approaches? Macro questions: concerned with how the structure and organization of society affects individuals Examines the relationship between groups and the resources the struggle over  Focus on power and who benefits Examines the relationship between workers, those who control/organize work, and consumers through one commodity (apparel)

What method(s) does Collins use to answer her questions? Why? Multisited ethnography: a holistic research method utilizes fieldwork to gain a systematic understanding of social phenomena Commodity chain analysis: trace the economic, political, and social relationships of one commodity in the global economy from production to consumption

How are her methods related to her research questions and her theoretical perspective? Commodity Chain Analysis:  Linkages and relationships between global & local  Social relations are determined by production & consumption Multi-sited Ethnography  Decisions, actions, negotiations  The daily life of workers

Threads: Key Concepts Concept: an abstract idea (tool) we use to analyze social phenomena Threads conceptual tools:  Commodity – a good bought and sold on the market; value is determined by the market  Globalization – interconnections and interdependency of people around the world World as a single order  Commodity Chain – economic and social relationships behind a commodity (often invisible)  Capital – tangible (machines, land) and intangible ($) inputs used for accumulation

Beyond a better understanding of the apparel industry, what does Collins say this study can help us understand? How will her research be able to do this?

Academic Argument A logical process of reasoning to make an informed statement Interpretation of the social world based on:  Facts, empirical evidence  Informed by theory and concepts  Assumptions are communicated and objectivity is desired

Opinion? Personal view, attitude, or appraisal  a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty Interpretation of the social world based on:  Personal experience  Personal beliefs  Subjectivity, not objectivity is desired

Was Collins able to control bias in her study?  Why or why not?  How? Do you think she should have:  Used a different theoretical approach?  Asked different types of questions?  Used different or additional methods?