Methods - Introduction to Sociology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Introduction to Sociology

Download Methods - Introduction to Sociology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Methods The Tools of Science Docsity.com Coming Up • This week: – Methods – Slave Families in the Mountain South • Next week: – Inequality in Health Care – Begin Our Look at Education Docsity.com Theory • Overarching view of the subject of study. – Theory of gravity • Every particle in the universe is attracted to each other in proportion to their mass and inversely proportional to their distance from each other. Docsity.com Hypotheses • Hypotheses are testable statements based on your theory. – Theory of gravity: • Hypothesis: An object dropped will fall to the ground. • Hypothesis: A comet coming too close to the earth will be captured by its gravity and fall to the earth. Docsity.com More Examples • Theory: Alienation under Capitalism – Hypothesis: Workers with little creative control over their work will be dissatisfied with their jobs. • Theory: Filters of Propaganda in Media – Hypothesis: Victims that support US interests will by “worthy” victims. Docsity.com Generalizing in Sociology • Proper techniques can tell you all lot about large numbers of people, just by surveying a properly studied smaller group. • Opinion polls and election exit polls are based on this principle. Docsity.com Limits to Generalizing • Bernard Goldberg tries to say the media is biased, but he is only looking at anecdotes from CBS news. • At best, he may be able to tell us a little about how CBS news operates, but he still has problems because of how he collected his information. Docsity.com Survey Evidence of “Bias” • Journalists’ Political Self-Identification – 61% liberal or moderate to liberal – 9% conservative or moderate to conservative • Journalists’ Social Views – 81% support affirmative action – 82% pro-choice – 25% support prayer in public schools Docsity.com Science or Opinion? • “I didn’t want this to be written from a social scientist point of view. I have total confidence that the point here is accurate.” – Bernard Goldberg at 2002 bookstore appearance. Docsity.com Liberal Bias? • What Goldberg tells us: – Journalists vote democratic. – Journalists support social liberal causes like Affirmative Action and gay rights. – He’s heard a few stories about how editors and others control news content. • What Goldberg leaves out: – Journalists support conservative economic issues. • So, what can we conclude from Goldberg? – Nothing scientific really! Docsity.com Types of Methods Unobtrusive and Obtrusive Qualitative and Quantitative Docsity.com Diaspora, Death and Sexual Exploitation Slave Families at Risk in the Mountain South Wilma Dunaway Docsity.com Engaging the Debates about US Slavery • Previous research – Slave families were generally stable with two parents. – Economically “rational” to keep slave families intact. Docsity.com Why Should We Study Slavery in the Mountain South? • There is very little existing research on the Upper South. – Previous research focused on large plantations of 50 slaves or more. • Dunaway’s Research – Based on Qualitative and Quantitative data • Census data and tax lists • Journals from slaves and Civil War veterans • Other manuscripts Docsity.com Threats to Survival • Poor sanitation • Poor housing and clothing • Dangerous work • Malnutrition and Hunger Docsity.com Sexual Exploitation • Manipulation and control of marriage • Early childbearing • Sexual abuse • Exploitative child nursing practices Docsity.com What Does Dunaway Tell Us? • Dunaway’s research is significantly different than previous researchers. – More family separation – Poorer conditions – More sexual exploitation Docsity.com