Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Exchange Approach George Homans Behavior is influenced by punishments and rewards. The world consists of people interacting and mutually rewarding or punishing each other. Looking Glass Self Charles Horton Cooley A person views themselves based on the reactions of others. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy A certain predicament is expected. Behavior then follows that expectation. The reaction to that behavior qualifies the original prediction. Table 2: Common Interactionist Viewpoints How individuals react to others is largely dependent on how they perceive the other person’s message. How they perceive the message is largely dependent on their past experiences in similar situations. A Note on Objectivity in Sociology: Sociologists cannot free themselves from bias completely. After all, sociology is a study of humans carried out by humans, naturally subjective beings. Subjectivity is implemented when a decision is made on the basis of a person’s values or experiences. Objectivity is implemented when a decision is made on the basis of mathematical data or other non-personal information. The primary means of combating bias in the social sciences is to present sociological findings to others; an open forum for discussion and criticism can help sociologists remain objective. 2.3 Research Methods There are two types of sociology and the differences between these two approaches are best understood by examining the different research methods used in each. • Applied (direct) sociology: Uses research to find solutions to practical problems. • Academic (indirect) sociology: Uses research to discover knowledge, simply for the sake of obtaining knowledge. Generally, sociological research happens outside the confines of a lecture room – in the real world. To produce reliable studies, it is imperative that sociologists develop a methodology , the set of standards and procedures that will guide their experimentation or observation. A proper methodology allows

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