大学思辨英语精读unit2sociologicalinvestigation参考答案

Unit 2 Sociological Investigation

Text A

Preparatory Work (1)

Experiment: variable, hypothesis, stimulus, control group

Survey Research: sampling, questionnaire, interview, close-ended questions, open-ended questions, code sheet, telephone survey Field Research: observation, participant

Analysis of Existing Data: content analysis, statistics (2)

Hawthorne effect: The Hawthorne effect (also referred to as the observer effect) is a type of reactivity in which individuals modify or improve an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. The original research at the Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, on lighting changes and work structure changes such as working hours and break times were originally interpreted by Elton Mayo and others to mean that paying attention to overall worker needs would improve productivity. This interpretation was dubbed “the Hawthorne effect”. (3) (open)

Teaching Suggestion

You can use the data banks of the two international organizations to check out the world or any particular country’s information in terms of GDP, population, territory area, human development index etc.

The United Nations ( : data page: World Bank ( : can also use the website of the Statistical Bureau of China to check out any statistical information about China: Reading

I. Understanding the text 1.

Thesis: How Sociology Is Done (Research methods/techniques employed in sociology) Part I Introduction II How do you know what 2-9 you know Authority, tradition, religion, personal experience, and mysticism . scientific methods Para(s). 1 Main idea Sociology as a science and its main research methods III The experiment 10-14 It is a research technique in which the researcher manipulates a stimulus to test theories of cause and effect. IV Survey research 15-22 It is used and designed to study samples in order to measure attitudes, beliefs, values, personality traits, and behavior of participants. V Field research 23-29 It is mostly resembles our daily casual observations of and participation in social behavior, as well as our attempt to understand such behavior. VI Analysis of existing 30-36 data It’s a method in which sociologists analyze data originally collected by others VII Conclusion 37 Thesis repeated: Sociology is a science because it uses scientific research methods 2.

(1) “common sense”: Common sense is a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things, which is shared by (“common to”) nearly all people and can reasonably be expected of nearly all people without any need for debate. However, many of the common sense beliefs are actually lacking in support from scientific evidences and therefore biased and prejudiced.

(2) Ordinary people often define their reality and what they know through authoritative opinions, traditional beliefs, personal experience, and mysticism (superstition). The major differences between this kind of “common sense” view knowledge and the results/facts identified through scientific methods are: the former are not based on logical reasoning and hard evidences and therefore tend to be subjective and biased while the latter are just opposite.

(3) The three major components of the scientific method are theory, operationalization, and observation. Theory provides the foundation for concepts so that statements about the relationship among variables can be created. Operationalization allows for the measurement of the variables so that they may be empirically examined. And observation involves the actual collection of data to test the hypothesis. (4) Types of Social Content Phenomena 1. Meanings and symbols Aspects of culture such as norms, worldviews, and language 2. Practice Various kinds of behavior such as voting behaviors or morning rituals (for example, washing one’s face and reading the daily newspaper) 3. Episodes A variety of events, including divorce, crime, illness, and how people may react during time of disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, or the banning of music television video (MTV) 4. Encounters Two or more people meeting and interacting in immediate proximity with one another. A good example of this is people riding in an elevator 5. Roles The positions people occupy and the behavior associated with those positions: occupations, family roles, ethnic groups 6. Relationships The kinds of behavior shown in pairs or sets of roles: mother-daughter relationships, friendships, and so on. 7. Groups Small groups, such as gangs, athletic teams, and work groups. 8. Organizations Formal organizations, such as corporations or universities 9. Settlements Smaller-scale “societies” such as villages, ghettos, and neighborhoods (5) Method & brief Advantages Disadvantages description The experiment is a Excellent devices for research technique in testing hypotheses Could expose subjects to the possibility of harm Subjects often which the researcher about cause and effect manipulates stimulus—the independent variable—to test a (can be repeated and can be quick in behave differently under scientific identifying results) observation Laboratory experiments often artificial are highly theories of cause and effect Survey research is used Can study samples, It is not the best and designed to study limited numbers of strategy for studying samples in order to people representing an deviant or undesirable measure beliefs, attitudes, entire group of people behaviors values, who share or for similar getting at ideas and feelings that cannot easily be reduced to personality traits, and characteristics behavior participants. of Can be designed to measure beliefs, personality and attitudes, questionnaire form. values, It is designed to study traits, individuals rather behavior of than social contexts.