1. Sociology

2. What is it?
Formal definition: a social science which studies human society and recognizes fact patterns as the key to explaining and predicting human behavior.
Informal definition: the study of group behavior and interaction.

3. How is it done? Sociology focuses on the group, not the individual
It also focuses on society’s influence on you, rather than your free will/brain

4. 2 Singers, 1 Song ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FOR EACH SONG:
When do you think this song was performed?
What adjectives would you use to describe the singer’s voice/tone/emotions etc.
What do you believe is the singer’s race?
AFTER LISTENING TO BOTH SONGS:
1. What event were both songs talking about?
2. What explains why the versions were so different?

5. Song #1 2012 Nostalgic, upbeat
Sam Doores, Riley Downing & the Tumbleweeds. Sam Doores is a white musician from New Orleans.

6. Song #2 1968 Sad, angry, frustrated, hopeless, bleak, overwhelmed
Abner Jay ( ). Abner was an African-American descended from American slaves.

7. Sociological Perspective
Definition: Looking at social life in a scientific way, which allows you to look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meaning behind human actions.
List 5 things a sociologist would be interested in (using his/her sociological imagination) at a PHS football game.
List 5 things a sociologist would be interested in when looking around an emergency room.

8. PHS Football Game Races playing v. watching
Ages of participants and those of fans
Which ages are watching v. socializing
Hair color of cheerleaders
Who is eating? What are they eating?
How are fans dressed – age, race, gender
Who leads the cheers in the stands? How was he/she chosen?
GPA of band v. players

9. Emergency Room
Age, race, gender, and education level of doctors, nurses, orderlies, and patients
Severity/type of injury – age, race, gender, wealth
Emotional responses of patients – age, race, gender
Reaction to doctors and nurses – age, race, gender
Terminology used by doctors, nurses, and patients
Communication styles between doctors, nurses, and patients

10. Sociological Imagination
Definition: the ability to see personal experiences in the context of social forces.
ADOPTING A SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION IS THE GOAL OF THIS COURSE!

11. The Research Process 7 Steps Define the problem Review the literature
Form a hypothesis
Choose a research design – Develop a plan
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Present conclusions

12. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM Durkheim wanted to study the effect of social integration on suicide rates among various groups of individuals. To do this, he had to find a way to make suicide and social integration measurable.

13. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 2: REVIEWING THE LITERATURE Durkheim read literature of how other researchers explained the phenomenon. He also read available statistics. This allowed him to dismiss psychological explanations to focus on sociological ones.

14. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 3: FORMING A HYPOTHESIS Durkheim hypothesized that suicide rates within groups vary inversely with the degree to which group members are integrated into society. What does that mean? The more family, religious, and community bonds group members have, the less likely they are to commit suicide.

15. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 4: CHOOSING A RESEARCH DESIGN Research design = a plan for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data. Durkheim analyzed official suicide records from various European nations.

16. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 5: COLLECTING THE DATA Must be carefully and accurately recorded.

17. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 6: ANALYZING THE DATA Durkheim found that rates differed for groups in society. Single people commit suicide more than married people with kids. Protestants commit suicide more than Catholics.

18. Emile Durkheim - Suicide
STEP 7: PRESENT CONCLUSIONS Durkheim confirms that his hypothesis was correct, that suicide rates vary inversely with the degree of social integration. Sociologists then present their findings in professional journals, scholarly books, and at professional meetings.

19. 5 Research Methods Survey Analysis of Existing Sources
Questionnaires
Interviews
Analysis of Existing Sources
Historical method
Content analysis
Observational Studies – Watch out for the guinea pig effect!
Detached observation
Participant observation
Case Study
Experiments
Statistical Analysis