Introduction to Sociology

Introduction to SociologyMs. PowerWiki...www.vanessapower.wikispaces.comIn your own wordsSociety:

Sociology:

Sociological Imagination:In your own wordsSociety: large social grouping that shares same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority

Sociology: the systematic study of human society and social interaction

Sociological Imagination: the ability to see the relationship b/w individual experiences and larger society-personal experiences & social context of which they occur

What do you think of when you see the following

She did what??Texted a message on phoneRolled her eyes when students shared Took off shoesPicked a wedgeSnapped gumFixed hairSociological ImaginationThe ability to see the relationship b/w individual experiences and larger society (personal experiences and the context of which they occur)

Mapping the Sociological Imagination

If the social world is a great big shopping mall, then to find your way around you need to use the directory located at the entrances. BUTthat map is useless to you unless it has the YOU ARE HERE indication. The sociological imagination is the YOU ARE HERE indicator. It helps to locate your SELF in the social world.

Make a list of personal concerns/issues. (not too personal)

Look at your list and try to link your troubles to social issues that it might involve.

The Sociological PerspectiveKey People and TermsKey PeopleAugust ComteFather of sociologyPositivism: Believed the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry3 Historical stages ReligionAbstract philosophical speculationScientific inquiryHeavily impacted by industrialization W.E.B. DuBoisAtlanta UniversityCreated laboratory of sociologySystematic researchDouble-consciousnessIdentity conflict of being black and an AmericanAmericans value democracy, equality but also except racism and discriminationKey PeopleEmile DurkheimProduct of social environment limits of human potential are socially basedSociety built on social factsSocial FactPatterned ways of acting thinking and feeling that exist outside anyone individual but that exert social control over each personEx. Religion, traditions, etc.Key PeopleKarl MarxHistory is based on continuous clash b/w conflicting ideas and forces Class conflict necessary to force change to better society

Herbert SpencerTheory of General EvolutionSociety has various interdependent parts to keep stability and orderEx. Family, economy, governmentSocieties develop through process of struggles and fitnessSocial Darwinism

Key PeopleMax WeberResearch should be value-free; research conducted in scientific manner and exclude personal values and interestsVerstehen: understandingProtestant Reformation influenced capitalism and allowed it to flourishSocial FactHistorical ContextIndividually brainstorm choose an historical event that you feel has shaped your life. Write how this event has affected your life?Remember, HISTORY IS A SOCIAL FACT!!!

Theoretical PerspectivesSociologists view society in 4 major perspectivesUsually based on general theoryA set of logically interrelated statements that attempt to describe, explain and predict social events

4 Theoretical PerspectivesFunctionalConflictSymbolicPostmodernFunctional PerspectiveBased on assumption that society is a stable orderly system; societal consensusSocial structures in place to keep orderFamily, education, religionAny one affected then ALL are affectedManifest function: intended outcomesLatent function: unintended outcomesMACRO or MICRO level?

Key PeopleTalcott ParsonsRobert Merton

Conflict PerspectiveGroups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resourcesPowerLitigationNegotiationsMACRO or MICRO levelKey People;Max WeberC. Wright MillsFeminist perspectiveSymbolic Interaction PerspectiveSymbols give meaning to human interactionThoughts and behaviors are shaped by social interactions with othersSociety is the sum of interactions of individuals and groupsMACRO or MICRO level

Think of a symbol(s) that are used between you and your peers everyday? What do they mean? Why?Key PeopleGeorge Herbert MeadErving GoffmanPostmodern PerspectivesEmerged after WWIIBelieve existing theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in societies characterized as post modernization, consumerism, and global communicationsPerspective based on the information explosion non-existent to 19th and early 20th century sociologists MACRO or MICRO level?

Key personJean BaudrillardHOMEWORKNewspaper SearchSearch through a newspaper and find a headline or a storyline that exemplifies 2 of the 4 theoretical perspectives of sociology. Cut it out and bring it in.Be prepared to defend your choices in oral form. ANDFill in key information of each key person in listed in each theoretical perspective.

HOMEWORK REVIEWFunctionalistsTalcott Parsons: all societies must provide for meeting social needs in order to surviveEx. Husband (instrumental)/wife(expressive) roles: must function to assist the familyRobert Merton: manifest functions: intended outcomeLatent functions: unintended outcomesDysfunction: undesirable consequences of societyEx. Education: knowledge(manifest) social relations(latent) racial/ethnic inequality (dysfunction)HOMEWORK REVIEWConflictMax Weber: recognized economic conditions but also power and prestige sources of inequalityPower: persona carry out their will despite resistancePrestige: +/- social estimation of honorC. Wright Mills: social reform look beneath everyday events to observe major resource and power inequalities that exist in societyValue-free sociology impossiblePower eliteFeminist : patriarchy system- masculinity favored in societyImportance of gender as an element of social structureConcept of Gender is socially created social learningHOMEWORK REVIEWSymbolic InteractionGeorge Herbert Mead: self comes from communication of others; personalities developed from social experiencesLanguage essential for developing self and common understandings about social lifeErving Goffman: impression management Present ourselves to others in particular waysactors on a stagePostmodernistJean Baudrillard: shift from production of goods to consumption of information, services and products in society as a new form of controlCapitalists strive to control your consumption

Sociological ResearchWhy is Research Necessary?Research helps move beyond guesswork and commonsense in understanding society

Commonsense and Sociological ResearchMuch of soc deals with everyday life, we tend to think commonsense, experiences and media are best resources. But why NOT?Need to objectively evaluate information

How much do you know about Suicide?TRUE/FALSE:For people thinking of suicide, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see the bright side of life.People who talk about suicide dont do it.Once people contemplate or attempt suicide, they must be considered suicidal for the rest of their lives.In the US, suicide occurs on the average of one every eighteen minutes.Accidents and injuries sustained by teenagers and young adults may indicate suicidal inclinations.Alcohol and drugs are outlets for anger and thus reduce the risk of suicide.How much do you know about suicide?TRUE/FALSE:7. Older women have lower rates of both attempted and completed suicide than do older men.8. Children dont know enough to be able to intentionally kill themselves.9. Suicide rates for African Americans are high than for white Americans10. Suicidal people are fully intent upon dying.How much do you know about Suicide?TRUE/FALSE:For people thinking of suicide, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see the bright side of life. TRUEPeople who talk about suicide dont do it. FALSEOnce people contemplate or attempt suicide, they must be considered suicidal for the rest of their lives. FALSEIn the US, suicide occurs on the average of one every eighteen minutes. TRUEAccidents and injuries sustained by teenagers and young adults may indicate suicidal inclinations. TRUEAlcohol and drugs are outlets for anger and thus reduce the risk of suicide. FALSEHow much do you know about suicide?TRUE/FALSE:7. Older women have lower rates of both attempted and completed suicide than do older men. TRUE8. Children dont know enough to be able to intentionally kill themselves. FALSE9. Suicide rates for African Americans are high than for white Americans. FALSE10. Suicidal people are fully intent upon dying. FALSEScientific EvidenceUse of scientific (proven) evidence allows sociologists to:DEBUNK fallacies of everyday understandings or societyNormative approach: uses religion, customs, habits, and law to answer important questions. (societal values)Empirical approach: answer questions through systematic collection and analysis of dataConventional Research ModelSelect and define the research problemReview previous researchFormulate the hypothesis-A statement of the relationship between two or more conceptsDevelop research designCollect and analyze dataDraw conclusions and report findingsResearch MethodsSpecific strategies or techniques for systematically conducting research1. Survey ResearchQuestionnaire or interview2. Field ResearchStudy of social life in natural study3. ExperimentsCarefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects attitudes or behavior.4. TriangulationCombine multiple methods in a given studyCan include multiple data sources, investigations, perspectives, etc.