Sociology

Sociology

1. Studying Society

   • Sociology explores the social factiors that shape human behaviour and the way society influences our daily lives.
     • Sociology is often defined as the study of society. A 'society' can be defined as a group of people, who share a culture or way of life.
   • Carrying out sociological research.
     • Research aims set out what the researcher intends to investigate and they provide the studys focus.
       • A hypothesis is a hunch or an informed guess and is written as a statement that can be tested.
         • A pilot study is a small-scale trial run carried out before the main research.
           • Rather than a study a polulation, a researcher usually takes a sample.
             • This is done by using a sampling technique such as stratified random sampling or snowball sampling.
             • Sociologists collect data unsing primary research methods such as questionnaires or observation.
               • Data analysis involves interpreting or making sense of the information and presenting the main findings or results.
                 • Sociologists write articles about their research in journals and present papers at conferences. This is where they evaluate.
                   • These articles and papers are reviewed and evaluated by other sociologists.
   • Social Surveys
     • Self-completion postal questionnaires are sent to respondents by post or email.
       • With hand-delivered questionnaires, the researcher hands the self-completion questionnaire to the respondent and returns to collect at a later date.
         • In structured (formal) interviews, a trained interviewer asks the set questions and records the respondents answers.
           • These are done either face to face or by phone.
           • An unstructured (informal) interview is like a guided conversation. Rather than asking set questions, it is guided by a short list of prompts.
             • Advantages
               • The trained interviewer can rephrase questions and clear up any misunderstandings.
                 • Interviewees can develop their answers and explain their views in detail.
                   • Unstructured interviews give an in-depth and rich account of the topic being studied.
             • Disadvantages
               • Unstructured interviews can be time consuming, and expensive for the amount fo data being collected.
                 • The interview effect: if interview bias occurs the results will not be valid.
                   • The interviewer effect: if interviewer bias occurs the results will be invalid.
                   • Unstructured interviews are not standardized so they are difficult to replicate in order to check whether the findings are reliable.
   • Primary and secondary sources of data
     • Primary data are collected first hand by the researcher unsing methods such as structured interviews or participant observation.
     • Secondary data, such as official statistics or mass media reports, are collected and put together by other people,or organizations such as governments
     • Quantitative and qualitative secnodary data
       • Quantative - presented as statistical information (numbers). Examples are opinion polls, and rates of marriage.
       • Qualatitive - presented in visual or verbal form, for instance as words. Examples include newspapers and magazine articles.
   • Ethical issues in research
     • Anonymity - participants should not be identified by name or in other ways in books or articales about the research.
       • Confidentiality - personal information about the participants should be kept private.
         • Informed Consent - before agreeing to take part in research, participants should be told clearly what the study is about and why it is being done.

2. Education

   • Formal education takes place in educational institutions suchj as schools and universities where people learn knowledge and skills.
   • Informal education takes place when people develop knowledge and skill by observing what is happening around them in everyday life.
   • Differential educational achievement
     • In general, students from a middle class background tend to acheieve better results than those from working class.
     • Generally, studernts from some minority ehtnic groups tend to perform better than other groups.
     • Influences on educational achievement
       • Parental values and expectations - Parents in professional occupations have high expectations. they are more likely to monitor their perfomance.
       • Parents educational background - If parents have high-level educational qualifications they are more able to help with homework and monitor progress.
       • School based resources - how well resourced the school is. Fee charging schools often have better rescources wihtin the school,and better facilities.
       • The school curriculum can be seen as biased towards white European cultures.

3. Families

4. Crime and deviance

5. Mass Media

6. Power

7. Social Inequality