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soci498_supporting_documents.docxThe research topic chosen for this analysis is social class. The term social class in this context is used to mean the financial well-being of an individual. Social class has been chosen as the basis for this research because it is a vast topic with a lot of effects on the relations that individuals have. It is important to note that in some instances the effects of social class are usually rather unclear. This is as opposed to an aristocratic system which is built on the concept of social class. Social class is an issue which affects every single person. This is due to the fact that every individual can be classified into a given social class. The fact, however, remains that the criteria which is used in social stratification varies from one setting to another. In conventional modern day society, the criterion that plays a large part in social stratification into classes is level of income. In some societies a range of other factors come into play such as lineage.
Social class is very relevant to the study of society. This is because it primarily is an aspect of sociology which affects every single person on the planet. In some instances, the effects of this phenomenon are usually executed on the subconscious level. This means that a person could exhibit prejudices related to social class and not even relies it. Social class is also a key determining factor when it comes to personal aspects such as self-esteem and cohesion in the community this makes the topic an integral section in sociology.
The research question is: how has social class affected the marriage patterns of individuals since the year 2000?
This research question is based on more recent times starting from the year 2000 to the present date. The premise behind this research question is that people usually tend to marry within their social classes. Thus an upper class man is likely to marry an upper class woman. This is part of the stereotypes that has been propagated by modern day society it is important to put this stereotype under the scrutiny of scientific methods in order to classify it as fact or fallacy.
There are two variables in this research question. The independent variable is the social class of an individual. In this context the social class will be divided into three paradigms. These are the upper class, middle class and lower class. Classification into these classes will be dependent on the financial status of the respondents. The dependent variable is the marriage patterns of the respondents since the year 2000.
This research question can be observed in the realm of the sociological perspective. The sociological perspective tends to look at the behaviors of an individual in relation to the social structures in which the individual lives. In this case the behavior of the individual is the choice for a spouse. The sociological establishment in which the individual lives is the social class stratification which exists in society. The sociological perspective can also be used in analyzing the social stratification of society based on the class paradigm as a determining factor.
Reference
Mckinley, D. G. (2012). Social Class and Family Life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 27(3), 429.
Paragraph and 1 Article Summary
The research question is: how has social class affected the marriage patterns of individuals since the year 2000?
Today’s society is very impressionable. There are a number of aspects which contribute to this impressionability of society. Key among these factors is the social class of an individual. Social class refers to the status that an individual hold in society. In traditional societies social lass was determined by aspects such as lineage and blood relations. This is still visible in aristocratic systems. In more progressive settings financial status is the measuring bar of social class. Even governments usually classify the electorate into social classes. There are a number of factors which are heavily dependent on social class. The following research paper aims to look at the effect that social class has on the marriage patterns of individuals. The premise here is that social class does in deed plays a role when it comes to the selection of a spouse. As such, the stereotypical assumption is that people from the upper class have a tendency to marry people from the same upper class. The same applies to members of the other social classes. This research will focus on marriage patterns since the year 2000. The time period is important as the research aims to look at the role of social class on marriage in recent times. The research will be guided by the null hypothesis that social class has not affected the marriage patterns of individuals since the year 2000. The alternative hypothesis for this research is that social class has affected marriage patterns of couples since the year 2000.
Reference
Mckinley, D. G. (2012). Social Class and Family Life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 27(3), 429.
Critique of Peer-Reviewed Article
There have been a number of articles and research endeavors carried out on the subject of social stratification in society. McKinley (2012) sought to analyze aspects of social class and how they affect the lives of different families. The article was based on the thesis that social class is a determining factor when it comes to marriage and eventual happiness of a family. This article is very relevant to my research. First of all it sheds light on how social class factors in when it comes to marriage. In addition, the article goes as far as to analyze the happiness levels of families vis a vis the social class of the families in question.
The article primarily makes use of qualitative data as well as quantitative data. The quantitative data is in the form of the happiness scale which has five levels. Level one is very sad, level two is sad, level three is indifferent, level four is happy and level five is very happy. The qualitative data is in the form of the opinions of the respondents and their stake of how the social class affects their family life and wellbeing. The selection of the sample for this article was very meticulous in nature. The research targeted a total of two hundred families. These families were equitably divided among the Caucasian, African American, Hispanic and Asian ethnicities. Thus, there were fifty Caucasian couples in the sample, fifty African American couples, fifty Asian couples and fifty Hispanic couples. This vast diversification of the sample is meat to increase the scope of the research analysis. This is due to the fact that different ethnicities usually have varying definitions and approaches when it comes to aspects of social class. There are some ethnicities in which social class is a bigger deal than it is in others.
The article worked under the null hypothesis that social class has no effect on the level of happiness of families. The research found that social class has an effect on the happiness level of families. In general families from the upper social class of society were found to be much happier than families from the lower social class of society. The middle class was found to be the most stressed and therefore the unhappy for couples. This was as a result of the vast financial constraints that are usually imposed on the middle class as well as the need to compete with peers and stand out. The strengths of the article include the large sample size and the scientific method used in selecting the sample which ensured no bias. The scientific method of selecting the sample ensured equitable distribution as well as reduced levels of biases which would have been exhibited by individual researchers. The selection of the large sample is meant to reduce the margin of error for the entire research. A large sample does not have the limitations of a small sample which is more susceptible to bias as well as errors due to the small scope of the sample. The weaknesses of the article include missing data and the provision of incoherent answers by members of the same family.
References
Mckinley, D. G. (2012). Social Class and Family Life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 27(3), 429.
Annotated Bibliography
Question one
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Source 1 |
Source 2 |
Source 3 |
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Source title |
Social class and changing families in an unequal America |
Caste, Class and the Love-Marriage: Social Change in India. |
Influence of Comparative Social Class of Companion upon Premarital Heterosexual Behavior |
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APA-formatted citation of source |
Carlson, M. J., & England, P. (2011). Social class and changing families in an unequal America. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
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Corwin, L. A. (2013). Caste, Class and the Love-Marriage: Social Change in India. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 39(4), 823. doi:10.2307/350485
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Ehrmann, W. W. (2006). Influence of Comparative Social Class of Companion upon Premarital Heterosexual Behavior. Marriage and Family Living, 17(1), 48. doi:10.2307/346779
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Relevance of source to Q |
The source analyzes effects of social class to marital life |
The source looks at the effect of social class on marriage patterns in India |
The source looks at how social class impacts factors such as premarital sex and partner selection |
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2-3 sentence description of source |
The social class is affecting the family setting in America. This is clearly visible due to the huge social gaps that exist |
There is a social revolution taking place in India. This is marked by an increase in love marriages as opposed to class inclined planned marriages. |
The source analyzes sex patterns for various social classes. This is meant to analyze whether social class affects aspects such as premarital sex |
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Main research question |
How does social class affect the family setting? |
Is social class a factor when it comes to love marriages? |
Does social class affect premarital heterosexual behavior? |
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Hypothesis |
Social class affects the family setting |
Social class is still a factor when it comes to love marriages |
Social class affects premarital heterosexual behavior |
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Methodology |
The methodology involved interviews |
The methodology involved interviews. |
The methodology involved questionnaires |
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Independent variables |
Social class |
Social class |
Social class |
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Dependent variables |
Family relations |
Level of happiness in a love marriage |
Premarital sexual behavior |
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Key findings |
Social class has a huge effect on family relations |
Even when people marry for love social class is still a factor which they consider. |
Members of the lower social class are more prone to engage in premarital sex. |
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Strengths |
Samples selected in a scientific manner. |
The sample selected was sufficiently large |
Research findings are very accurate |
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Weaknesses |
A very small sample was used. |
The study focuses mostly on rural inhabitants |
Some aspects of the research design are not clear |
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Critically evaluate the content for accuracy, bias and coverage |
The source is very detailed. The scientific method is applied in analysis so as to eliminate aspects of bias. |
The sample was drawn in a scientific manner therefore eliminating bias. |
The research findings are very accurate as all questionnaire questions were answered |
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Analysis of source as it helps to answer your question |
This helps to answer the research question as it looks at the happiness levels for families of different social classes |
This helps to answer the research question as it shows that even when people marry for love social class is still a determining factor |
This source shows that sexual behavior is more prevalent among members of the lower social class. There are very few instances where people of different social classes engage in premarital sex. |
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Analysis of 2+ sources |
Source 2 used a much bigger sample than source 1 |
Source 2 uses interviews to collect data while source 3 uses questionnaires. |
Source 1 looks at family relations while source 3 looks at relations among people who are not yet married. |
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Source 4 |
Source 5 |
Source 6 |
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Source title |
Social Class Influences on Family Adjustment Patterns of Married College Students |
Kinship, Social Class, and Migration |
Families: A social class perspective |
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APA-formatted citation for source |
Eshleman, J. R., & Hunt, C. L. (2005). Social Class Influences on Family Adjustment Patterns of Married College Students. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 29(3), 485. doi:10.2307/349589
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Hendrix, L. (2014). Kinship, Social Class, and Migration. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41(2), 399. doi:10.2307/351706
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Hill, S. A. (2012). Families: A social class perspective. Los Angeles: SAGE/Pine Forge Press.
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Relevance of source to research Q |
The article is relevant because it analyzes the influence of social class on married college students |
The article analyzes how kinship and social class affect social factors such as marriage |
This article studies the social paradigm of families |
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2-3 sentence description of the source |
The article looks at marriage in college. The aspect of analysis is how social class affects married couples in college |
The article looks at kinship. This is a key determining factor of social class in an aristocratic setting |
The paper looks at the family. This is with reference to the social standing of the family |
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Main research question |
How does social class influence the adjustment patterns of married college students? |
How does kinship, social class and migration affect marriage patterns? |
Social class is a key factor when it comes to family cohesion |
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Hypothesis |
Social class influences adjustment of married couples in college |
Kinship and social class affect marriage patterns |
Social class affects the levels of cohesion in a family |
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Methodology |
The main data collection method used was interviews |
The paper used secondary sources of information such as government records |
The research used interviews to collect data |
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Independent variables |
Social class |
Social class and kinship |
Social class |
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Dependent variables |
Adjustment patterns among married couples in college |
Marriage patterns |
Cohesion levels in families |
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Key findings |
Social class influences adjustment patterns for married college students |
Kinship and social class affect marriage patterns |
Social class affects cohesion levels in families |
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Strengths |
Research was conducted in a scientific manner |
The research is very clear |
The research findings are verifiable as the collected data is attached |
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Weaknesses |
Only one college was used for the analysis |
There are no primary data sources used |
Cohesion level is an ambiguous term |
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Critically evaluate the content for accuracy, bias and coverage |
The research is accurate |
The content is accurate |
The research is unbiased |
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Analysis of the source as it helps to answer your question |
This paper is very important as it shows the influence of social class on married college students |
This paper shows that kinship affects social class which in turn affects marriage patterns |
This helps to answer the research question as it shows the level of togetherness of families from different social classes |
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Analysis of 2+ sources |
Source 4 used primary sources while source 5 used secondary sources |
Source 5 has two independent variables while source 6 has only one |
Source 6 attached the data collected for the analysis while source 4 did not |
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Source 7 |
Source 8 |
Source 9 |
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Source title |
Marriage choices and class boundaries: Social endogamy in history |
Social Class Mobility and Family Integration |
Social Class and Family Life |
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APA- formatted citation |
Leeuwen, M. H., Maas, I., & Miles, A. (2005). Marriage choices and class boundaries: Social endogamy in history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Lemasters, E. E. (2008). Social Class Mobility and Family Integration. Marriage and Family Living, 16(3), 226. doi:10.2307/348495
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Nye, F. I., & Mckinley, D. G. (2012). Social Class and Family Life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 27(3), 429. doi:10.2307/350301
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Relevance of the source to the research Q |
The paper looks at the history of social class in marriage. |
The paper looks at family integration and the effect of social class |
This paper is relevant as it looks at the influence of social class on families |
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2-3 sentence description of the source |
Social class goes back a long way in history. It has played a part in a lot of factors such as matrimony |
The paper looks at how social class affects integration of families. This is with respect to families from different social settings |
The research analyzes the psychological disposition of families. This is with respect to their social class setting |
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Main research question |
How has social class affected marriage over time? |
How does social class affect integration in families? |
How does Social class affects the psychological disposition of families? |
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Hypothesis |
Social class has affected marriage over time |
Social class affects integration in families |
Social class affects the psychological disposition of families |
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Methodology |
The paper used interviews as well as official records as data sources |
Interviews |
Interviews and questionnaires |
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Independent variable |
Social class |
Social class |
Social class |
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Dependent variable |
Marriage choices |
Integration in families |
Psychological disposition of families |
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Key findings |
Social class has affected marriage decisions over time |
Integration of families does not depend on the social class of the family |
Social class affects the psychological disposition of families |
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Strengths |
The paper is very clear and unambiguous |
The data used is original |
The data used is original |
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Weaknesses |
Some of the sources noted are outdated |
The sample selected is very small |
The dependent variable is not well defined |
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Critically evaluate the content for accuracy, bias and coverage |
The coverage is very wide |
The research has no elements of bias |
The coverage of the analysis is satisfactory |
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Analysis of the question as it helps to answer your research Question |
This source helps to answer the research question as it analyzes the history of social class on marriage decisions |
This source helps to answer the research question as it looks at integration in families with respect to the social class of the spouses |
The source helps to answer the research question as it looks at the psychological state of families with respect to their social class |
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Analysis of 2+ sources |
Source 7 uses two data collection methods while source 6 uses only one |
Source 8 rejects the null hypothesis while source 7 does not reject the null hypothesis |
Source 9 does not reject the null hypothesis while source 8 rejects the null hypothesis |
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Source 10 |
Source 11 |
Source 12 |
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Source title |
Social Class, Family Size, and the Sick Role |
Family Help Patterns and Social Class in Three Countries |
Marital Role Segregation and Social Networks in Middle-Class Middle-Aged Couples |
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APA citation |
Petroni, F. A. (2007). Social Class, Family Size, and the Sick Role. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 31(4), 728. doi:10.2307/349315
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Shanas, E. (2009). Family Help Patterns and Social Class in Three Countries. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 29(2), 257. doi:10.2307/349686
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Udry, J. R., & Hall, M. (2010). Marital Role Segregation and Social Networks in Middle-Class Middle-Aged Couples. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 27(3), 392. doi:10.2307/350285
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Relevance of the source to the research Q |
The source is relevant because it looks at aspects of family life and social class |
The paper looks at the family and social class |
The paper focuses on marital affairs among the middle lass |
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2-3 sentence description of the source |
The source looks at the influence of social class on the family. These include aspects such as family size |
The paper looks at the family help patterns in three countries. This is with respect to the social class of the families. |
Marital roles are very different. Social networking is also a factor when it comes to marriage |
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Main research question |
How does social class affect family size: |
How does Social class affects family help patterns? |
How does the middle class demographic affect the marital role and social networking? |
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Hypothesis |
Social class affects family size |
Social class affects family help patterns |
The middle class demographic has unique marital roles and networking tendencies |
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Methodology |
Secondary data from government sources |
Interviews |
Interviews |
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Independent variables |
Social class |
Social class |
Social class |
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Dependent variables |
Family size |
Family help patterns |
Marital role and social networking |
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Key findings |
Social class does affect family size |
Social class affects family help patterns |
The middle class demographic has unique marital roles and networking tendencies |
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Strengths |
The data sources are very credible |
Very wide scope |
Big sample size |
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Weaknesses |
Lack of primary sources of data |
The dependent variable is very ambiguous |
Very few interview questions |
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Critically evaluate content for accuracy, bias and coverage |
The coverage is very wide |
The content is accurate |
The research is unbiased |
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Analysis of the source as it helps to answer the research question |
This source helps to answer the research question as it looks at how social class affects aspects of family life |
This helps to answer the research question as it describes how social class affects family help patterns |
This helps to answer the research question as it looks at networking in the middle class and how this affects marital roles |
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Analysis of 2+ sources |
Source 10 uses secondary sources while source 11 uses primary sources |
Source 11 has one dependent variable while source 12 has two dependent variables. |
Source 12 uses primary sources while source 10 uses secondary sources |
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Source 13 |
Source 14 |
Source 15 |
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Source title |
Women’s social mobility in China: Marriage and class |
Class matters |
Marriage choices and class boundaries: Social endogamy in history |
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APA citation |
Yu, S. (2011). Women’s social mobility in China: Marriage and class. Handbook on Class and Social Stratification in China, 128-141. |
Groppelli, M. (2005). Class matters. New York: Times Books.
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Leeuwen, M. H., Maas, I., & Miles, A. (2005). Marriage choices and class boundaries: Social endogamy in history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press |
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Relevance of the source to the research Q |
The source looks at women and social class in china |
Focuses on social class |
Looks at class and marriage |
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2-3 sentence description of source |
Marriage is quite a traditional affair in china. It is greatly affected by social class |
The paper looks at factors affected by social class. One of these factors is marriage |
The paper looks at social class in history. This is in relation to marriage choices made in this respect |
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Main research question |
How does social class affect the marriage patterns of women in china? |
How does social class affect social aspects such as marriage? |
How has social class affected marriage choices in history? |
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Hypothesis |
Social class affects the marriage patterns of women in china |
Social class affects social aspects such as marriage |
Social class has affected marriage choices throughout history |
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Methodology |
Interview |
Questionnaire |
Interviews, government records |
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Independent variables |
Social class |
Social class |
Social class |
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Dependent variables |
Marriage patterns of women |
Marriage |
Marriage choices |
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Key findings |
Social class affects the marriage patterns of women in china |
Social class affects social aspects such as marriage. |
Social class has affected marriage choices |
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Strengths |
Primary data |
Primary data |
Sample selected scientifically |
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Weaknesses |
Small sample size |
Presence of generalizations |
Some of the data is very old |
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Critically evaluate content for accuracy, bias and coverage |
The research is unbiased |
The coverage is sufficient |
Content is unbiased |
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Analysis of the source as it helps to answer your question |
This source helps to answer the research question as it shows how social class affects marriage decisions by women |
The research shows that social class is a factor in marriage |
This paper helps to answer the research question as it looks at the history of marriage choices with reference to social class |
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Analysis of 2+ sources |
Source 13 uses interviews while source 14 uses questionnaires |
Source 14 has one independent variable while source 5 has two |
Source 15 has two methods of data collection while source 13 has only one |
