1. Chapter 1 Sociology: Studying Social Problems

2. Seeing Patterns: The Sociological Perspective
Sociology is the systematic study of human societies.
Society is a term referring to people who live within a territory and share many patterns of behaviors.
Culture refers to a way of life including widespread values, beliefs, and behavior.

3. Further: People experience social problems in very personal ways
Sociology shows that the problems we face are not only the results of personal choices but reflect the operation of society itself
C. Wright Mills used the sociological imagination to show that our personal troubles are really social issues that affect many people – ourselves included

4. Defining Social Problems
A social problem
is a condition that undermines the well- being of some or all members of society
is usually a matter of public controversy
Determining social problems can be controversial
subjective and objective realities may
actually end up being quite different
what people identify as the most serious
social problems varies over time

5. Social Constructionist Approach
Social problems arise as people define conditions:
As undesirable
In need of change

6. Claims Making
Process of convincing the public that a particular issue or situation should be defined as a social problem
Mothers Against Drunk Driving

7. Defining Social Problems
One indication that people recognize an issue as a social problem is the formation of a social movement
an organized effort at claims making
that tries to shape the way people think about an issue in order to encourage or discourage social change

8. Stages in Social Movements
Social movements progress through four distinct stages:
Emergence
Coalescence
Formalization
Decline

9. Social problems result from the ways in which society operates.
Eight assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems:
Social problems result from the ways in which society operates.
Social problems are not caused by bad people.
Social problems are socially constructed as people define a condition as harmful and in need of change.
People see problems differently.

10. Further: Definitions of problems change over time.
Problems involve subjective values as well as objective facts.
Many – but not all – problems can be solved.
Various social problems are related.

11. Looking Beyond Ourselves: A Global Perspective
A global outlook shows
Harmful conditions often cross national boundaries
Many of the problems that we in the U.S. face are more serious elsewhere

12. Analyzing Social Problems: The Role of Theory
a statement of how and why specific
facts are related
Theoretical Approach:
a basic image of society that guides
thinking and research

13. The Structural-Functional Approach
A theoretical framework that sees society as
a system of many interrelated parts
Social Institutions: the main parts of this system (organized to meet basic human needs)
education
family
economics
politics
religion

14. The Structural-Functional Approach
Early Functionalism: Problems as Social Pathology
The “Chicago School”: Problems as Disorganization
More Recent Functionalism: Problems as Dysfunctions
Manifest versus Latent Functions
Eufunctions versus Dysfunctions

15. The Social Conflict Approach
A theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict
Social problems arise because our society is divided into “haves” and “have-nots”

16. The Social Conflict Approach
Marxism: Problems and Class Conflict
Capitalists
Proletarians
Multiculturalism: Problems of Racial
and Ethnic Inequality
Feminism: Problems and Gender Conflict

17. The Symbolic-Interaction Approach
A theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another

18. The Symbolic-Interaction Approach
Learning Theory: Problems and the
Social Environment
Labeling Theory: Problems and Social
Definitions

19. Survey Research: Asking Questions
A researcher asks subjects to respond to items in a questionnaire or interview.
A questionnaire is a series of items a researcher presents to subjects for their response
In an interview, the researcher meets face to face with respondents to discuss a particular issue
While questionnaires offer a chance for greater breadth of opinion, interviews can provide greater depth of understanding

20. Field Research: Joining In
Also called participant observation
Involves researchers observing people while joining in their everyday activities

21. Experimental Research: Looking For Causes
Experiment: a method by which a
researcher investigates cause-and-effect relationships under highly controlled conditions
Most experiments are carried out in
specially designed laboratories

22. Secondary Analysis: Using Available Data
A common major research method that is based on collection of data originally collected by others

23. Truth, Science, and Politics
Max Weber’s “value-free” approach
The “value commitment” approach
Is “objective” research even possible?

24. Truth and Statistics Check how terms are defined
Numbers are subject to error
People often “spin” their statistics

25. Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy
Social policy refers to formal strategies to affect how society operates.

26. Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy
The evaluation of social policy:
How is success defined?
What are the costs?
Whom should get the help?

27. Policy and Culture
Social policy tends to be shaped by existing cultural values

28. Policy and Politics
Conservatives: seek to limit the scope of societal change (focus is on shortcomings of individuals, not society)
Liberals: favor more sweeping change in society (see problems in the organization of society)
Radicals: support policies that go beyond mere reform
can be either ultra liberal or ultra conservative

29. Politics: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions
The Political Spectrum: a continuum representing a range of political attitudes from “left” to “right”
Social Issues: political debates involving moral judgments about how people should live
Economic Issues: political debates about how a society should distribute material resources

30. Who Thinks What?
Two good predictors of political attitudes are education and wealth – both of which are elements of social class
The fact that social class affects social and economic attitudes differently means that most people have some combination of liberal and conservative attitudes