Chapter 1
How Sociologists View Social
Problems
Sociology
Sociology: The systematic study of human societies
 Macro/Micro
 Society
 Culture
The Sociological Imagination
Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills):
Looking at people’s behavior and attitudes in the context
of the social forces that shape them.
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Changes in society have a profound influence on people’s lives.
Emphasis on how larger events have an impact on how we
think, feel, act
Connecting personal troubles and public issues/social world
Personal Troubles – are really social issues that affect
many people
Social Location
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The process of becoming aware of ourselves by
evaluating our own identity in relation to other
people; structures.
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Jobs
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Income
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Education
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Gender
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Age
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Race/Ethnicity
What is a Social Problem?
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Social Problem:
Some aspect of society that people are concerned about and would like
changed; socially constructed
 A condition that undermines the well being of some or all members of
society; usually a matter of public controversy.
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Social Constructionist Approach
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Social problems arise as people define conditions:
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As undesirable
In need of change
Examples of Social Problems:
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Crime
Poverty
Sexual abuse
Domestic violence
War
Racism
The Role of Sociology in Social Problems
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Tool for breaking through emotions and defenses
Common sense is not enough: not adequate for addressing social
problems.
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May be faulty
Five ways sociology penetrates emotional convictions to yield
objective understanding of social problems:
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Sociologists can measure objective conditions.
Sociologists can measure subjective concerns.
Sociologists can apply the sociological imagination.
Sociologists can identify different ways to intervene in a social problem.
Sociologists can evaluate likely consequences of social policies.
Elements of a Social Problem
Social Problems have two essential components:
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Objective Condition
Measured
 Experienced
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Subjective Concern
Concern about the social problem
 Both sides of the issue
 Culturally influenced
 Change in societies will cause a change in opinions and concerns
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Characteristics:
Social problems are dynamic: respond to changes in society
 Social problems are relative: social problems depend on values
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The Natural History of Social Problems
Four Stages (Social Movements):
 Defining
the problem, the emergence of leaders, and
beginning to organize
 Crafting
an official response
 Reacting
to the official response
 Developing
alternative strategies
Methods for Studying Social Problems
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Four basic research designs and methods:
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Case Studies – specific situations/cases
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Documents – secondary resources
Surveys – generalizability
Interviews (Structured and Unstructured)
 Questionnaire – closed/open ended
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Experiments – experimental/control groups
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Field Studies – participant observation
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Observation - overt/covert
Principles Underlying Sociological
Research
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Sociologists use scientific methods to provide
objective, systematic research findings.
Sociologists do not base their conclusions on emotions
or personal values.
Sociologists use the sociological imagination.
Because sociology cannot dictate that one set of
values is superior to another, it provides no basis for
making value decisions.
Should Sociologists Take Sides?
Problem of determining morality
Research methods allow one to gather objective
information on social problems, but do not reveal
what attitude or social policy is “correct.”
 Sociology is not equipped to make judgments
about values and morality.
 Should sociologists forget their own subjective
concerns and strive to remain dispassionate,
detached, and value-free or should they report
the facts and not take sides on the social issues
that affect our society?
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The Debate Among Sociologists
Those who champion neutrality stress the position
that sociologists enjoy no superior vantage point
from which to make moral judgments.
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Sociologists do have knowledge and skills to offer but not
morality.
Sociologists can indicate the potential consequences of
different social policies, but should not promote any
particular policy or solution.
On the other side of this issue, some sociologists are
convinced that they have a moral obligation to take a
stand.
Taking Sides: Divisions
and Agreement
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If sociologists want to take sides on any issue, they should
do so as private citizens, not as sociologists.
Debate keeps sociologists sensitive to the boundaries
between objectivity and partisanship.
Most sociologists attempt to resolve this dilemma by
separating research evidence from their own values and
opinions.