Psychology SOC Assignments

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Chapter 1

Thinking about Social Problems

Mooney/Knox/Schacht, Understanding Social Problems, 10th Edition. © 2017 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Chapter 1: Thinking about Social Problems

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to be better. It’s not.”

– Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Learning Objectives

Define a social problem.

Discuss the elements of the social structure and culture of society.

Understand the connections between private troubles and public issues, and how they relate to the sociological imagination.

Summarize structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism and their respective theories of social problems.

Describe the stages in conducting a research study.

Chapter Outline

What Is a Social Problem?

Elements of Social Structure and Culture

The Sociological Imagination

Theoretical Perspectives

Social Problems Research

Ten Good Reasons to Read This Book

Understanding Social Problems

Thinking about Social Problems…

In a 2015 Gallup poll, a random sample of Americans were asked, “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?”

Common answers included wages, corporate corruption, the gap between the rich and the poor, distrust of government, health care, immigration, the family, education, and poverty.

Only 28% of Americans were satisfied “with the way things are going in the United States at this time.”

What Is a Social Problem?

Objective Elements of Social Problems

Existence of a social condition.

Awareness of social conditions arise through life experiences and through reports in the media.

We see the homeless, hear gunfire in the streets, and see battered women in hospital emergency rooms.

We read about employees losing their jobs as businesses downsize and factories close.

Subjective Elements of Social Problems

The belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society or to a segment of society and that it should and can be changed.

We know crime, drug addiction, poverty, racism, gun violence, and pollution exist.

These are not considered social problems unless a segment of society believes these conditions diminish the quality of human life.

After the economic turndown of 2008, the U.S. Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The stimulus package was designed to help failing industries, create jobs, promote consumer spending, rescue the failed housing market, and encourage energy-related investments. To date, the distribution of stimulus funds amounts to over $840 billion (Recovery.gov 2015).

Objective and Subjective Elements of Social Problems

By combining the subjective and objective elements, we arrive at the following definition:

A social problem is a social condition that a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy.

Variability in Definitions of Social Problems

Some Americans view gun control as a necessary means of reducing gun violence whereas others believe that gun control is a threat to civil rights and individual liberties.

Variations in what is considered a social problem are due to differences in values, beliefs, and life experiences.

What Do You Think? 1

For a condition to be defined as a social problem, there must be public awareness of the condition.

How do you think the widespread use of communication technology—such as smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube—has affected public awareness of problematic social conditions?

Can you think of social problems that you became aware of through communication technology that you probably would not have been aware of if such technology were not accessible?

Elements of Social Structure and Culture

Elements of Social Structure (1 of 7)

The structure of a society refers to the way society is organized.

Society is organized into

Institutions

Social groups

Statuses

Roles

Social Institutions

Social Groups

Statuses & Roles

Elements of Social Structure (2 of 7)

An institution is an established and enduring pattern of social relationships.

The five traditional institutions are:

Family

Religion

Politics

Economics

Education

Elements of Social Structure (3 of 7)

A social group is defined as two or more people who have a common identity, interact, and form a social relationship.

Primary groups are characterized by intimate and informal interaction.

Secondary groups are task oriented and characterized by impersonal and formal interaction.

Elements of Social Structure (4 of 7)

Statuses: A status is a position that a person occupies within a social group.

The statuses in a family may consist of mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, wife, husband and child.

Statuses can be either ascribed or achieved.

Elements of Social Structure (5 of 7)

Ascribed Statuses: An ascribed status is one that society assigns to an individual on the basis of factors over which the individual has no control.

Examples: child, teenager, senior citizen.

Characteristics like age and race are ascribed statuses.

Elements of Social Structure (6 of 7)

Achieved Statuses: An achieved status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some control.

Examples: college graduate, spouse, parent, bank president, convicted criminal

Elements of Social Structure (7 of 7)

Roles: The set of rights, obligations, and expectations associated with a status.

Roles guide our behavior and allow us to predict the behavior of others.

Elements of Culture (1 of 5)

Culture is defined as the meanings and ways of life that characterize a society, including beliefs, values, norms, sanctions, and symbols.

Elements of Culture (2 of 5)

Beliefs are definitions and explanations about what is assumed to be true.

Is second-hand smoke dangerous?

Values are social agreements about what is considered good and bad, right and wrong, desirable and undesirable.

Racism, sexism and heterosexism violate the values of equality and fairness.

Elements of Culture (3 of 5)

Norms

Socially defined rules of behavior. There are three types of norms.

Folkways – customs, habits, and manners of society.

Laws - formal norms backed by authority.

Mores - norms with a moral basis.

Elements of Culture (4 of 5)

Sanctions

Consequences for conforming to or violating norms.

Elements of Culture (5 of 5)

Symbols

Something that represents something else.

Language, gestures, and objects whose meaning is commonly understood by the members of a society.

The Sociological Imagination

The sociological imagination:

a term C. Wright Mills (19 59) developed, refers to the ability to see the connections between our personal lives and the social world in which we live.

When we use our sociological imagination, we are able to distinguish between “private troubles” and “public issues” and to see connections between the events and conditions of our lives and the social and historical context in which we live.

Theoretical Perspectives

Structural-Functionalist Perspective

Society is composed of parts that work together to maintain a state of balance.

Two types of functions:

latent - Consequences that are unintended and often hidden.

manifest - Intended and commonly recognized

What Do You Think? 2

In viewing society as a set of interrelated parts, structural functionalists argue that proposed solutions to social problems may lead to other social problems.

For example, urban renewal projects displace residents and break up community cohesion. Racial imbalance in schools led to forced integration, which in turn generated violence and increased hostility between the races.

What are some other “solutions” that lead to social problems?

Do all solutions come with a price to pay?

Can you think of a solution to a social problem that has no negative consequences?

Structural-Functionalist Theories of Social Problems

Social pathology - Social problems result from “sickness” in society.

Social disorganization - Rapid social change disrupts norms in society.

When norms become weak, unclear, or are in conflict with each other, society is in a state of anomie, or normlessness.

Conflict Perspective (1 of 2)

Views society as composed of groups and interests competing for power and resources.

Explains various aspects of our social world by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social arrangement.

Conflict Perspective (2 of 2)

Karl Marx

The origins of the conflict perspective can be traced to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx suggested that all societies go through stages of economic development.

Industrialization leads to two classes: the bourgeoisie, the owners of the means of production; and the proletariat, the workers who earn wages.

The bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of society to their advantage.

Conflict Theories of Social Problems (1 of 3)

There are two general types of conflict theories of social problems:

Marxist Conflict Theories focus on social conflict that results from economic inequalities.

Non-Marxist Conflict Theories focus on social conflict that results from competing values and interests among social groups.

Conflict Theories of Social Problems (2 of 3)

Marxist Conflict Theories:

According to Marxist theorists, social problems result from class inequality inherent in a capitalistic system.

Marxist conflict theories also focus on the problem of alienation, or powerlessness and meaninglessness in people’s lives.

Conflict Theories of Social Problems (3 of 3)

Non-Marxist Conflict Theories:

Concerned with conflict that arises when groups have opposing values and interests.

Antiabortion activists value the life of unborn embryos; pro-choice activists value the right of women to control their reproductive decisions.

These value positions reflect different subjective interpretations of what constitutes a social problem.

Levels of Analysis

Macrosociology - Looks at the "big picture" of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the institutional level.

Structural-functionalism and Conflict theory

Microsociology - Concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups.

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

A basic premise is that a condition must be defined or recognized as a social problem for it to be a social problem.

Three types:

Blumer’s Stages of a Social Problem

Labeling theory

Social constructionism

Symbolic Interactionist Theories of Social Problems (1 of 2)

Blumer’s Stages of a Social Problem: Herbert Blumer suggested social problems develop in stages:

Societal recognition is the process by which a social problem, is “born.”

Social legitimation takes place when the social problem is recognized by the larger community.

Mobilization for action that leads to the development and implementation of a plan for dealing with the problem.

Symbolic Interactionist Theories of Social Problems (2 of 2)

Labeling theory: A social condition or group is viewed as problematic if it is labeled as such.

Social constructionism: Argues that reality is socially constructed by individuals who interpret the social world around them.

Social Problems Research

Stages of Conducting a Research Study (1 of 4)

Formulating a research question.

Reviewing the literature.

Defining variables.

Formulating a hypothesis.

Stages of Conducting a Research Study (2 of 4)

Formulating a Research Question – A research study usually begins with a research question.

Reviewing the Literature – After a research question is formulated, researchers review the published material on the topic to find out what is already known about it.

Stages of Conducting a Research Study (3 of 4)

Defining Variables:

A variable is any measurable event, characteristic, or property that varies or is subject to change.

Researchers must operationally define the variables they study.

Specifies how a variable is to be measured.

Operational definitions are particularly important for defining variables that cannot be directly observed.

Stages of Conducting a Research Study (4 of 4)

Formulating a Hypothesis:

A hypothesis is a prediction about how one variable is related to another variable.

The dependent variable is the variable that the researcher wants to explain.

The independent variable is the variable that is expected to explain change in the dependent variable.

What Do You Think? 3

In a free society, there must be freedom of information. That is why the U.S. Constitution and, more specifically, the First Amendment protect journalists’ sources.

If journalists are compelled to reveal their sources, their sources may be unwilling to share information, which would jeopardize the public’s right to know. A journalist cannot reveal information given in confidence without permission from the source or a court order.

Do you think sociologists should be granted the same protections as journalists?

If a reporter at your school newspaper uncovered a scandal at your university, should he or she be protected by the First Amendment?

Methods of Data Collection (1 of 8)

Experiments

Surveys

Field research

Secondary data research

Methods of Data Collection (2 of 8)

Experiments are a research method that involves manipulating the independent variable to determine how it affects the dependent variable.

Methods of Data Collection (3 of 8)

Surveys:

Survey research involves eliciting information from respondents through questions.

An important part of survey research is selecting a sample of those to be questioned.

A sample is a portion of the population, selected to be representative so that the information from the sample can be generalized to a larger population.

Methods of Data Collection (4 of 8)

Interviews:

In interview survey research, trained interviewers ask respondents questions and make written notes about or tape-record the answers.

One advantage of interview research is that researchers are able to clarify questions for the respondent and follow up on answers to particular questions.

Methods of Data Collection (5 of 8)

Questionnaires:

Researchers may develop questionnaires that they mail or give to a sample of respondents.

Questionnaire research is less expensive and less time consuming than surveys and provides privacy to research participants.

The disadvantage of mail questionnaires is that it is difficult to obtain an adequate response rate.

Methods of Data Collection (6 of 8)

Web-based surveys:

Web-based surveys are growing in popularity and are thought to reduce many of the problems associated with traditional survey research.

Methods of Data Collection (7 of 8)

Field Research:

Field research involves observing social behavior in settings in which it occurs naturally.

In participant observation the researcher participates in the phenomenon being studied to obtain an insider’s perspective.

In nonparticipant observation the researcher observes the phenomenon being studied without actively participating.

Methods of Data Collection (8 of 8)

Secondary Data Research:

Secondary data are data that have already been collected by other researchers or government agencies or that exist as historical documents.

An advantage of using secondary data in studying social problems is that the data are readily accessible, so researchers avoid the time and expense of collecting their own data.

The disadvantage is that the researcher is limited to the data already collected.

What Do You Think? 4

Some colleges and universities have instituted policies that require students to take one or more global courses—courses with a global or international focus—in order to graduate.

Do you think colleges and universities should require some minimum number of global courses for undergraduates? Why or why not??

Ten Good Reasons to Read This Book (1 of 2)

Provide an integrated theoretical background

Develop a sociological imagination

Understand globalization

Increase awareness about fixing social problems

Increase optimism

Ten Good Reasons to Read This Book (2 of 2)

Be empowered with knowledge

Increase self awareness

Increase empathy and compassion

Learn the basics of scientific research

Make a difference in the world

Understanding Social Problems

Hopefully, you will learn how to use your “sociological imagination.”

Sociologists have been studying social problems since the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization brought about massive social changes.

There is no single agreed-upon definition of what constitutes a social problem.

Quick Quiz 1

According to Marxist conflict theorists, social problems are the result of:

A. class inequality.

B. anomie.

C. the sickness within social institutions.

D. different interpretations of roles.

Answer for Quick Quiz 1: A

According to Marxist conflict theorists, social problems are the result of class inequality.

Quick Quiz 2

According to symbolic interactionists, what must occur in order for a condition to be a social problem?

A. The condition weakens institutions.

B. The condition disrupts society's harmony and balance.

C. The condition is defined as a social problem.

D. The condition involves competition between groups.

Answer for Quick Quiz 2: C

According to symbolic interactionists, in order for a condition to be a social problem, the condition is defined as a social problem.

Quick Quiz 3

Defining abortion as an immoral act of murder is an example of what?

A. conflict theory

B. looking glass self

C. anomie

D. labeling theory

Answer for Quick Quiz 3: D

Defining abortion as an immoral act of murder is an example of labeling theory.

Quick Quiz 4

Which of the following is not one of the four stages of setting up a research study (before data collection actually begins)?

A. Formulating a hypothesis

B. Reviewing the literature

C. Conducting a survey

D. Defining your variables

Answer for Quick Quiz 4: C

Conducting a survey does not take place during the process of setting up your research study. The four stages are 1, formulating a research question, 2, reviewing the literature, 3, defining the variables, and 4, formulating a hypothesis.

Quick Quiz 5

is the portion of the population that has been selected for

your study that is supposed to be representative of a larger population.

A. target population

B. sample

C. variable

D. experimental group

Answer for Quick Quiz 5: B

The sample is the portion of the population that has been selected to represent the target population.

Psychology SOC Assignments

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