Foundations of Sociological Inquiry

Sociology 300

Today’s Objectives How to Become A Practicing Social Scientist Observe, Analyze, Interpret The Foundations of Social Science Syllabus and Course Objectives Questions

Set up Clicker Technology Becky Plugs in Receiver & Sets Channel to 05 Becky Sets Up Web-Based Session Students with Clicker Set Channel to 05

Ch; 05; Ch Students with Wireless Device Login to

www.rwpoll.com Enter Session ID

This is a Test

Sociology 300 is a required course for Sociology Majors?

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1. Yes

2. No

3. Don’t Know

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Let’s Flip a Coin (1)

What was the result of your coin drop?

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1. Heads

2. Tails

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Let’s Flip a Coin (10)

What was the result of your coin drop?

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1. Heads

2. Tails

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Let’s Flip a Coin (185)

What was the result of your coin drop?

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1. Heads

2. Tails

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Observe, Analyze, Interpret What happened when you let go of the coin?

Observe, Analyze, Interpret What happened when you let go of the coin? Why did that happen?

Observe, Analyze, Interpret What happened when you let go of the coin? Why did that happen? What will happen the next time you drop a coin?

Observe, Analyze, Interpret What happened when you let go of the coin? Why did that happen? What will happen the next time you drop a coin? How do you know?

Observe, Analyze, Interpret What happened when you let go of the coin? Why did that happen? What will happen the next time you drop a coin? How do you know? Are there exceptions?

The Foundations of Social Science The foundations of social science are logic and

observation (What).

Theory provides a systematic explanation for the observations that relate to a particular aspect of life (Why).

The Foundations of Social Science Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain

Social Regularities If you drop a coin it will fall

What happens on the moon? In a zero gravity chamber? If there is a magnetic device nearby?

The Foundations of Social Science Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain

Social Regularities If you drop a coin it will fall

What happens on the moon? In a zero gravity chamber? If there is a magnetic device nearby?

The coin will land heads or tails up What if the coin is weighted?

The Foundations of Social Science Social Scientists Observe and Seek to Explain Social

Regularities If you drop a coin it will fall

What happens on the moon? In a zero gravity chamber? If there is a magnetic device nearby?

The coin will land heads or tails up What if the coin is weighted?

Under repeated sampling (If we drop the coin many, many times) we begin to establish regularities What happens when you only drop the coin 1 time? 10 times? 185 times? 185 * 100 times?

What do Sociologists Study? Birthrates, Deathrates, Migration Marriage, Divorce, Childbearing War, Peace Political Behavior, Social Movements Crime, Criminal Justice, the Courts Organizational Behavior Economic Inequality, Employment Education

Syllabus and Course Objectives http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c

lasspage.asp?cid=2101

Syllabus and Course Objectives http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c

lasspage.asp?cid=2101

Observe, ask, collect, record Analyze Interpret

Syllabus and Course Objectives http://www.soc.washington.edu/academics/courses/c

lasspage.asp?cid=2101

Observe, ask, collect, record Analyze Interpret

Learn how to ask a sociological question, identify data to answer the question, analyze data, present your findings, and situate your findings in relation to what we think we already know

Have you ever played an instrument?

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1. Yes

2. No

3. Don’t Know

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30

If you answered yes to the previous question, How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

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1. Take the Q train to Lincoln Center

2. Take a Taxi to Times Square

3. Practice

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How do you become a social scientist?

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1. Practice

2. Practice

3. Practice

4. Practice

5. Practice

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Questions?