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Prev
iew
to C
ours
e
Units of A
nalysis
Tim
e in
the
Soci
al S
cien
ces
Soci
olin
guist
ics
Theo
ry &
Met
hods
Race
& E
thni
city
Microsociology &
the SelfH
istorical SociologyC
rime &
Deviance
Sex & G
ender Social Institutions
Mar
riage
& K
insh
ip
Ecology &
Society
Mac
roso
ciol
ogy
Wor
ld-S
yste
ms
The Pow
er of Words
Sociological theories are abstract principles about how social processes work.
Grand theory refers to sociological theories that are universal, meaning not particular to one place, one time, or one people (e.g., conflict leads to hierarchy formation, etc.).
Hypotheses are assumptions derived from theories for the purposes of comparing empirical cases to expected outcomes.
Theories and Hypotheses
Population
HierarchyFormation
Circumscription
ResourceScarcity
Intensification
EnvironmentalDegradation
Conflict
TechnologicalDevelopment
Emigration
Famine
Plague
Droughts
Bands/Tribes
Chiefdoms
Empires
World-economy
Primal
Archaic
Classical
Modern
Com
plex
ity
Time
Early States
Com
plex
ity
Time
Population
Intensification(rate of production,
distribution, andconsumption)
Hunting & gatheringHorticultural or
other advanced foraging
Agriculture
Irrigation, plow
Mathematics
Architecture
Bureaucracy
Domestication ofPlans and Animals
InstitutionalDifferentiation
TheisticReligions
Once we’ve identified what variables are important in our model, we create a theory that explains all the causal relationships that we expect to see among the variables.
Each causal relationship is a testable hypothesis. It is factual, in that it can be supported or refuted with empirical data.
Constructing a Theory
This variable this one.affects
Asking forDirections
Male
Familiaritywith Locale
SpatialConceptualization
Getting Lost & Asking for Directions
History ofGetting Lost
Expectations ofSelf-sufficiency
SIAI:Feminism
? ?
Right to Abortion?
Women’sPolitical
Repr.
Info on Abortion?
AI: Feminism SI: FeminismSIAI:
Feminism
Right toAbortion?
Female
Left-wing AI: Feminism SI: FeminismSIAI:
Feminism
DiscriminatedMinority
Core
Religiosity
Education
IncomeKenyan
SocialMovement
Involvement
Feminism and Attitudes towards Abortion
WVS: CP Hierarchy & Attitudes towards Abortion
Pro-life Pro-choice0 1 2 3 4
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Periphery Semiperiphery Core
No Sometimes, it depends Yes, Under All Circumstances
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Periphery Semiperiphery Core
WSF 2007: CP Hierarchy & Attitudes towards Abortion
Al P
acin
o
Cap
tain
Kid
d
Cri
ps
Febr
uary
Pizz
a
Lat
e
Max
Web
er
Stro
ngly
Opp
osed
Tur
kmen
ista
n
Tur
quoi
se
Typ
e IV
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
The Ecological Fallacy
What’s wrong with this picture?
2 (S e2 – ê)*½(x)
Qualitative
participant observation
unobtrusive observation
interviews
artifact analysis
Quantitative
internet data set searches
data entry from books, etc.
surveys
coding of narratives
experiments
Basic Sociological Methods
镇
4.2%
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 - 10 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 4041 - 50
51 - 6061 - 70
71 - 8081 - 90
91 - 100
118
179
92100
63
26
4 10
Age Groups, World Social Forum (2007)
Assignments 5 & 8: Quantitative DataAssignment 5 requires the use of two variables plus “Name” which is always nominal.
You must choose ONE unit of analysis in the social universe, then gather the values of 30 cases representing your unit of analysis for your 3 variables.
See the back of Assignment 5 for sources of data. You can use any method you want (e.g., ask 30 people 3 questions, get 3 facts on 30 countries, get 3 prices for burgers at 30 dif’t “restaurants”, etc.) to build your dataset.
Subject’s last name Subject’s sex appeal
Subject’s wag factor Subject’s opinion of the 49ers
Subject’s # of employees Subject’s realtor license #
Subject’s opinion of MLK Subject’s criminal record
What subject did with last tax refund Subject’s mileage
Subject’s favorite sitcom Subject’s aversion to work
Subject’s war record Subject’s GNP
Can you have subjective or nominal variables in your dataset?
Internet data searches are usually a quick way to gather quantitative data. Be careful to document your citations to verify the authenticity of your data.
about.com is a good place to start, but use other search engines as well. Don’t be afraid to research things you’ve never researched before.
You can also use another methodology to gather data. Surveys are a popular method, but data entry from books, newspapers, etc. is also an option.
Suggestions for Data Gathering
Assignment 7: Reality Breaching Experiment
Not everyone can do every assignment on this sheet with the same ease; each one requires different personality attributes (e.g., role-playing styles that facilitate keeping a straight face during a humorous situation, approaching strangers in a public place, or altering your accent).
Choose one of the four assignments available on your homework sheet. Once you’ve done the assignment, write up a set of field notes according to the questions that the assignment asks.
Ethnomethodology (“the study of folk-methods”) is a microsociological paradigm that seeks to explain the methods used by various ethnos (folks) to construct, maintain, and reproduce social reality.
All the unspoken rules in any culture are a function of our expectations based on linking symbols (faces, letters, colors, numbers, animals, artifacts, etc.). As long as we obey them, reality will appear to flow smoothly to those around us.
Let’s see what happens when you violate some of the implicit rules in contemporary American society. Make sure you address EVERY question in the assignment you chose.
Reality Breaching
Extra Credit3 pages, 3 points, 3 weeks
Watch Kinsey and address the following questions in a typed essay.
Which methodologies did he use? What were his findings? How was his objectivity put to the test? How did he handle that? What is the importance of objectively understanding human sexuality outside the constraints of our own society?