The Sociological Perspective

Know the assumptions of structural-functional, conflict, and symbolical interaction theories. Review the contributions of Augusta Comet, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, 6. Mile Drummers, Max Weber, Harriet Martinets, Jane Addams, and W. E. B. Dubos. Review the culture of sociology in the United States. 8. Review the process of the three types of research discussed in the textbook. 9. Outline the steps in the scientific method of research. 10. Differentiate between the following concepts variable, independent and dependent variables, and control variables. 11. 12. 13.Explain the importance of operational De talk about what a sample is in survey research. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of controlled experiments, survey research, and doweryicipant observation. Do you eery wonder why pack in the middle west drive pick-ups and the people in China want a oscillation? Do you ever think about why people were attach to their televisions when the World Trade Center Towers were d estroyed by terrorists? Do you ever watch people at a ball bouncing or at a shopping mall? Have you ever wondered why these people be overhear as they do? Do you ask yourself why you chance on some of the decisions that you do?If you see crooks from family, friends, co-workers, and the kind of economy hat we start in, then you ar practicing sociology. Sociology is concerned with the groups, large and small, that we ar a part of and how they influence our air. Sociology is peerless part of the social sciences. The social sciences argon a related group of disciplines that subscribe to some aspect of human being behavior. The differences are in the focuses. As examples, psychology focuses on such areas as the personality, the brain, and how we learn. bill and political science study last(prenominal) events, government expressions, and current personal matters to understand our behavior.Economics includes areas such as supply and emend, government policies, and occupational trends. Anthropology focuses on cultures and how they determine certain behaviors. Sociology can be rationaliseed by the updated version of an elderly story titled The Elephant Story. It goes as follows It is said that in the recent past five wise men and women, all blindfolded, were led to an elephant. Each was asked to explain what they saw. The first, a psychologist, odoring the top of the head, said, This is the only thing that counts. all(a) savor and thinking takes place inside here.To understand this beast, we need study only this. The second, an anthropologist, tenderly touching the trunk and the tusks, said, This is really primitive. I feel actually comfortable here. Concentrate on these. The third, a political scientist, sprightliness the gigantic ears, said, This is the power center. What goes in here controls the entire beast. Concentrate your studies here. The fourth, an economist, feeling the mouth, said, this is what counts. What goes in here is distributed t hroughout the body. Concentrate your studies on this. Then came the sociologist (OF trail , who, feeling the entire body, said, You cant understand the beast by concentrating only one part. Each is but part of the whole. The head, the trunk and tusks, the ears, the mouth all are important. And so are the parts of the beast that you havent even mentioned. We must take on our blindfolds so we can see the bigger picture. We have to see the larger picture. We have to see how everything works together to form the entire animal. Pausing for emphasis, the sociologist added, And we besides need to understand how this creature interacts with similar creatures, HOW does their life in groups influence their behaviors? I wish I could conclude this fable by say that the psychologist, the anthropologist, the political scientist, and the economist, dazzled upon hearing the wisdom of the sociologist, amidst gasps of wonderment threw away their blindfolds, and connective together, began to exa mine the larger picture. But, alas, and alack Upon hearing this sage advice, each stubbornly rebound their blindfolds even tighter to concentrate all the more on the single part. And if you listened very, very carefully you could even hear them saying, Dont touch the tusks. take your hand withdraw the ears. Stay away room the mouth thats my area. Sociology, however, includes all of these areas of study and is belike the broadest of all of the social sciences. The main difference is that sociology focuses on the effect of groups on our actions and decisions. Sociology views behavior as resulting from all of the various influences that these disciplines specifically study. Certainly biography in an industrial/technological society affects our motivations and our occupational choices. World struggle II affected how we view women in the labor force today. Telecommunications have influenced our current work patterns.These are a few examples that demonstrate the effects of our so ciety on behavior. Sociology is defined as the systematic study of human social interaction. This means how we interact with persons in any group setting. roughly of us follow patterns in our behaviors (think about your morning routines, are they ordinarily the same? ) and this allows sociologists to learn something about our behavior. Sociologists try to describe and to explain behavior. They are people watchers looking for patterns of behavior which allows sociologists to predict trends in behavior to support determine better social policies.However, sociologists realize that people change which requires that our predictions be tenuous. Never the less, sociologists want to develop a body Of reliable association that can be applied to make our lives more understandable. Sociologists explain behavior through the concepts of structure and roles. Structure is much like a material or script that guides our behavior. Roles, on the other hand, fit into a structure and deal with how we should perform. In a basketball game, rules serve to give the game structure. Everyone who plays knows or should know the rules of the game. This allows everyone to now how to behave and what to expect.