The first of the three assigned readings describes how sociologists conduct, collect, and apply their research. During this section the readers is introduced to a general research model that sociologists use. However before going in depth on the research model the applications of common sense while doing sociological research must be established. During this paragraph James M. Henslin uses an example of rape to portray the importance of sociological research and that one should not assume or use common sense for everything. Henslin then begins to explain the research model. This model has eight steps starting with selecting a topic all the way to sharing the results. He highlights the six research methods and explains when and how one should use a particular method. The …show more content…
He begins this excerpt by introducing the setting (St. Louis) and its high concentration of drug use. When he decides to infiltrate the setting he immediately realizes that gaining the trust of street corner drug dealers will be a challenge as he is a white affluent male. In the beginning many of the dealers assumed he was a police officer. He then tells stories of the numerous run ins with the police and quotes Polsky stating “If one is effectively to study adult criminals in their natural settings, he must make the moral decision that in some ways he will break the law himself” (78). After months of observation and communication with some of the dealers Jacobs finally was able to comfortably interview them in order to gather his data using the unobtrusive observation method. The following excerpt by Elliot Liebow briefly describes Leibow’s participant observer study of the lives of homeless women. While Leibows study is not as risky compared to the work of Jacobs, however similarly they both struggled to be accepted by the population they were studying. He states on multiple occurrences throughout this excerpt that he was not going to think of anyone as mentally ill, an
Chapter six brings a different approach at introducing the importance of sociology. This chapter, focuses upon the historical significance of American sociology as society knows of it today. It discusses many different aspects of sociology, but it intentionally focuses on these important aspects that include: “The Chicago school”, sociologists whom attributed to American sociology, and the rise of female sociologists. These three fundamentals establish the overall history of American sociology.
Read the article titled Asking Sociological Questions and reflect on the course material by answering the following questions in complete sentences (1–3 sentences per question). Your responses will be graded using the Module Eight Worksheet Rubric.
Within the following essay I will illustrate how my sociological imagination has developed over the course of the academic year, drawing upon a number of pieces of work to demonstrate this. I will use these pieces of work to demonstrate how the sociological imagination has played a role in understanding the pieces of work themselves and finally, I will bring each piece of work together in order to substantiate the development of my sociological imagination.
Hey Faye! Let me say, that I checked your office hours and you have bloody awful ones (no offense!). There is no way (unless by magic) I'll ever get to see you which makes me sad. :c
After having read the first three chapters of “You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like A Sociologist,” I easily discovered that I have been a budding sociologist since I began forming my own thoughts. A sociologist questions everything and tries to relate the unknown, and I do that on a daily basis. Three specific ways in which I have noticed myself thinking like a sociologist have involved the Conflict Theory, the Reflection Theory, and the idea of “positivism.”
Introduction: In sociology we can learn about the society. Sociology is a social science which also study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies. It helps us to create a behavior which is accepted by the society. For reviewing on sociological concepts The Boy in The Striped Pajamas is a good movie. There are four sociological concepts we can relate with this movie which are Cultural Shock, Ethnocentrism, Culture and Gender Inquality.
In the book sociology: A down to earth Approach by James Henslin Social class is class is explained as a” large number of people who have similar amounts of income, education and work at jobs that are roughly comparable in prestige and make up.” (Henslin, 263) Social Class not only affects us as individuals but also affects us as families. Social class can affect our physical health, mental health, and Education. The book explains that social class affects physical health, in three different ways.
A key part of engaging in sociology is to adopt a sociological viewpoint or 'think sociologically'. Etymologically, sociology is the 'study of society' but this doesn't differentiate sociology from other forms of social study. Hence, many begin to describe thinking sociologically by what it is not - it is not thinking politically, thinking anthropologically, thinking historically or thinking psychologically, for example (Berger 1966: 11-36; Reiss 1968: 2-3). Others try to determine the nature of sociological thinking by detailing practical phenomena which can be thought about such as social systems and their subsystems, social institutions and social structure, and social aggregates, relationships, groups and organisations (Reiss 1968: 1),
According to Durkheim, Social fact or social phenomenon are the main subject matter of sociology. He said in one of his pieces that social fact must be studied distinct from the biological and psychological phenomenon. Social order is the trend of behavior being used to exercise power over another person. It has become rules and regulations that have been set up by some authorities to be obeyed by another group of people who are being undermined in a society, it is a situation that oppressed people and limits them from their liberties. When people go through these situations they cannot function the way they are supposed to function because they are limited by their freedom. These social orders are not only laws but rather certain norms created by the authority to put a whole race into a situation where they are very far from freedom of speech, movement, and knowledge. African Americans are an example of a race that has been through discrimination at workplaces, schools, community etc. They are one race which has been a label or put in a class where the situation will never permit you to climb the ladder of success. Although you might have all the certification, qualification, the best schools, etc. but the fact that you came from the poor class or the lower class, it becomes very difficult for the Caucasian people to give you the opportunity you deserve, because of this, the citizens of American have been grouped into different classes which are upper, middle, working,
Sociologists use many different designs and methods to study society and social behavior. Most sociological research involves ethnography, or “field work” designed to depict the characteristics of a population as fully as possible.
At the beginning of the semester, I knew very little about sociology or even what it was about. I just knew I needed to take the class for my degree plan to transfer to a four-year university and that I would be doing a lot of reading about different terms and theories of society. However, this first month of class has helped me improve my understanding of what sociology is about and shown me how my personal society has impacted the way I view society. Not only did I learn about the relationships between society and myself, but I have also learned different concepts that have helped me gain a better understanding of how society works. There are three specific sociological concepts that has helped me improve my understanding of the relation
In Essentials of Sociology, by James M. Henslin we read that there are four origins of sociology. The origins are the Industrial Revolution, social upheaval, skepticism, and the power of science. This was known to be tradition vs. science. When tradition was tested and failed and science was used that gave birth to sociology.
Throughout this essay, I will explain the distinction between sociological and common sense understanding, highlight the differences between sociology and other social sciences, and evaluate two sociological perspectives – Marxism and feminism.
After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trends and fashions through time, Sociology adapts to responsibly to service the very subjects of interest it studies; for, even the slightest change of a person’s daily experience can have an insurmountable impact on attitude, personal growth, family
By explaining the humanistic perspective proposed by him, the author convincingly demonstrates that sociology is more than its methods, such as surveying, or its theories. There are many sociological theories, but they all are part of the fundamental vision of all processes as the effects of human interactions. Berger (1963) often refers to his own experience of being a sociologist, and this adds reliability to his arguments. Also, despite beginning the book in a light and humorous manner, the author further turns to complicated scientific notions and perspectives; this shows his expertise and makes the book’s major thesis more persuasive.