Do Now: Write down focus in your notebook:

Sociology is a behavioral science that looks a human behavior in groups. Sociologists must maintain objectivity, perspective and imagination. Sociology does not involve making judgments based on personal bias, but on proven evidence that is often the opposite of what we expect.

Focus:

Stereotypes and Observations

What is the difference between Maybrook, Walden, Montgomery

Comparisons

Maybrook• More sports and activities• Low income demographic

without new housing• Losing youth programs due

to a lower amount of children of certain ages

• Senior Housing

Walden• Lot of Pizza Places and

Chinese Restaurants• Drugs – Crack• Illegal activity• Income demographic raised

due to new high income housing

• Crime increasing• Low education level

Compare

Village of Montgomery• Historic• Higher income• Tourism• Higher education level• Drug activity – high end

drugs• Parks carefully patrolled and

curfew

Town of Newburgh• Commercial places• Trailer Parks• Places like Golds Gym and

Commercial places due to proximity to I-84.

• Drugs – Crack• Illegal activity• Income demographic raised

due to new high income housing

Compare

Village of Montgomery• Historic• Higher income• Tourism• Higher education level• Drug activity – high end

drugs• Parks carefully patrolled and

curfew

Town of Newburgh• Commercial places• Trailer Parks• Places like Golds Gym and

Commercial places due to proximity to I-84.

• Drugs – Crack• Illegal activity• Income demographic raised

due to new high income housing

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 Sociology?

What is aSociological Perspective?

Sociology seeks to see how society “is”, not

what it should be

Studying groups without attributing your own opinions or values

What is your sociological identity?The collection of group memberships

that determine your identity

How many groups make up your social identity?

• Male or female• Sister, brother, child• Employee• Student• Boy/Girl Scout• Italian ancestry• African

American/Latino/Asian American/Caucasion

• Boyfriend/girlfriend• Someone with a

disability• A survivor of a disease,

traumatic incident, loss of family member

• Volunteer• Athlete• Artist, etc.

Examples of sociological questions

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?)

What kind of Questions do Sociologists Use?

Empirical Questions

Can be answered by

gathering facts

Different from other types of

questions

Theo

retic

al Q

uesti

on What is racism?A questions about ideas that is answered by other ideas M

oral

Que

stion Should there be

racism?A question that asks you to make a value judgment

Empi

rical

Que

stion 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

What do sociologists look at?

• CAUSE=Direct result of an action/issue/event• CORRELATION= Related to action/issue/event

but not necessarily a cause. Ex. You have more of a probability of dying if you go to the hospital.

The ability to see a

connectionBetween you And the larger

world

What is a Sociological Imagination?

View the world through other’s eyesLook beyond commonly held beliefs to hidden meanings

What do Sociologists look at?

• 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

Do Now: Sociological Imagination

• In sociology we often deal with assumptions and hold off on making judgments until evidence proves other wise.

• In reality, this can sometimes not be the best course of action. Our common sense or (emotional intelligence) comes into play.

Summary

• What is Sociology?• What is sociological identity• What kinds of questions are there?• How do sociologists measure society?• What is sociological perspective?• What is sociological imagination?• In what areas do sociologists work?• What content areas do sociologists look at

and why?

Pop Culture – what defines our culture?

• Two 100 year old best friends

Two 85 year old best friends.

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