“DOING” SOCIOLOGY
The What, the Who, the How
The following slide will give you the
vocabulary you need to glean from
this lesson. There will also be
questions at the end of this
presentation that come directly from
these slides.
Taking notes is highly encouraged.
Vocabulary
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Sociology
Sociological Identity
Sociological Perspective
Sociological Imagination
Empirical Questions
Science of Sociology
In three words or less, describe “who” you are
in:
Math Class
Lunch
Gym
Last weekend
What is Sociology?
Sociology
Study of human
behavior in groups
What people do?
Why they do it?
Sociologists use
the Scientific
Method to study
Politics, race, location,
gender, culture,
socioeconomic issues,
etc
All interact with each
other – causing group
behavior
What is your sociological identity?
The collection of group memberships
that determine your identity
Student
Daughter
Son
Sister
Brother
Employee
Volunteer
Musician
Dancer
Writer
Mathematician
Friend
Colleague
Neighbor…..
What is a
Sociological Perspective?
Studying groups
without attributing your
own opinions or values
Sociology seeks to see
how society “is”, not
what it should be
What is a Sociological Imagination?
The ability to
see a
connection
Between you
And the larger
world
View the world through other’s eyes
Look beyond commonly held beliefs to hidden meanings
Look at Correlations: Ex. There is a distinct connection between hospitalization
and death
Causation: Smoking has been linked as a cause of cancer through research
Anthropology
Social
Psychology
History
Social Sciences
Political
Science
Psychology
Economics
What is racism?
A questions
about ideas that
is answered by
other ideas
Moral Question
Theoretical Question
Empirical Questions
Can be
answered by
gathering facts
Different from
other types of
questions
Should there be
racism?
Empirical Question
Why do Sociologists use Empirical
Questions?
A question that
asks you to make
a value judgment
Does racism exist
in society?
A question that
can be answered
with
observations and
investigation
Sociology is a Science –using observations
and research can provide data that can be
measured
How is Sociology Scientific?
• Ask a question (hypothesis)
• Create a way to collect data for an answer
• Observe Carefully
• Analyze your observations to see
what answers they provide
It is NOT common sense even though
It may seem that way….appearances are often
deceiving!
Does the quantity of social ties affect the quality of social ties?
(Does having more acquaintances harm or help close friendships?)
Is inequality inherited?
(Do people raised in poverty go on to different jobs than those who
were raised with wealth?)
Does working hard guarantee success?
(Does working hard determine quality of life or do issues like illness,
disabilities, economics, geographic location limit success?)
• Politics, race, gender, economics, religion, psychology, anthropology, cultural
studies, gender studies, etc.
• All interact with each other.
• Studying one in isolation misses important information on how social groups
work
Summary
• What kinds of sociological questions are
there?
• How do sociologists measure society?
• In what areas do sociologists work?
• What content areas do sociologists look at
and why?
• Why isn’t sociology just “common sense”?
Quiz on this
Material
Next Class
This PowerPoint is posted on my
Website – Google
Mrs. Francis Teacher Web
Look under Sociology Documents
Exit Quiz
Name_____________ Per.____
• In one sentence sum up the main idea of this lesson
• Write down one (1)
new term you
learned today
• Will you ever use
anything you
learned today ?