Units of Analysis as Related to Sociology

Units of analysis are the objects of study within a research project. In sociology, the most common units of analysis are individuals, groups, social interactions, organizations and institutions, and social and cultural artifacts. In many cases, a research project can require multiple units of analysis. Overview Identifying your units of analysis is an important part of the research process. Once you have identified a research question, you will have to select your units of analysis as part of the process of deciding on a research method and how you will operationalize that method. Lets review the most common units of analysis and why a researcher might choose to study them. Individuals Individuals are the most common units of analysis within sociological research. This is the case because the core problem of sociology is understanding the relationships between individuals and society, so we routinely turn to studies composed of individual people in order to refine our understanding of the ties that bind individuals together into a society. Taken together, information about individuals and their personal experiences can reveal patterns and trends that are common to a society or particular groups within it, and can provide insight into social problems and their solutions. For example, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco found through interviews with individual women who have had abortions that the vast majority of women do not ever regret the choice to terminate the pregnancy. Their findings prove that a common right-wing argument against access to abortion--that women will suffer undue emotional distress and regret if they have an abortion--is based on myth rather than fact. Groups Sociologists are keenly interested in social ties and relationships, which means that they often study groups of people, be they large or small. Groups can be anything from romantic couples to families, to people who fall into particular racial or gender categories, to friend groups, to whole generations of people (think Millennials and all the attention they get from social scientists). By studying groups sociologists can reveal how social structure and forces affect whole categories of people on the basis of race, class, or gender, for example. Sociologists have done this in pursuit of understanding a wide range of social phenomena and problems, like for example this study that proved that living in a racist place leads to Black people having worse health outcomes than white people; or this study that examined the gender gap across different nations to find out which are better or worse at advancing and protecting the rights of women and girls. Organizations Organizations differ from groups in that they are considered more formal and, well, organized ways of collecting people together around specific goals and norms. Organizations take many forms, including corporations, religious congregations and whole systems like the Catholic Church, judicial systems, police departments, and social movements, for example. Social scientists who study organizations might be interested in, for example, how corporations like Apple, Amazon, and Walmart impact various aspects of social and economic life, like how we shop and what we shop for, and what work conditions have become normal and/or problematic within the U.S. labor market. Sociologists who study organizations might also be interested in comparing different examples of similar organizations to reveal the nuanced ways in which they operate, and the values and norms that shape those operations. Cultural Artifacts Sociologists know that we can learn a lot about our society and ourselves by studying the things that we create, which is why many of us cultural artifacts. Cultural artifacts are all the things that are created by humans, including the built environment, furniture, technological devices, clothing, art and music, advertising and language--the list is truly endless. Sociologists who study cultural artifacts might be interested in understanding what a new trend in clothing, art, or music reveals about the contemporary values and norms of the society that produces it and those who consume it, or they might be interested in understanding how advertising might impact norms and behavior, especially in terms of gender and sexuality, which has long been fertile ground for social science research. Social Interactions Social interactions also take a wide variety of forms and can include anything from making eye contact with strangers in public, purchasing items in a store, conversations, engaging in activities together, to formalized interactions like weddings and divorces, hearings, or court cases. Sociologists who study social interactions might be interested in understanding how larger social structures and forces shape how we behave and interact on a daily basis, or how they shape traditions like Black Friday shopping or weddings. They might also be interested in understanding how social order is maintained. Research has shown that this is done in part by intentionally ignoring each other in crowded public spaces.

Personal Statement My Family - 957 Words

There are many aspects of this picture that tell you a story about my family. First, and probably the most obvious, is that we enjoy spending quality time together during sporting events. Whether its a third grade baseball game, high school football game, or a professional NHL game, sports are a way that our family communicates. This picture was during one of the NHL games we went to in Boston. A big part of all my family members childhoods included competitive sports, so its something we all find common ground on. Part of the reason for this is because we are not huge talkers. You will never find my family sitting around chit-chatting for hours, that just isn’t our personality. We talk and communicate better when there is something to watch and engage with. This is especially true with the male figures in my family. This picture was taken when I was home for a weekend while I was in my undergraduate studies. I was in the middle of my nursing clinical s, and it was a stressful time for me because it was my first taste of â€Å"real life†. I was very stressed, and taking a weekend off and going to a mindless sporting event was something I needed at that time. I can still remember feeling conflicted between the stages of of adolescence and adulthood. I was happy to have a weekend where I was an adolescent. When you look at the members in the picture you see my mother, father, and brother. We are what you consider a nuclear family. My mother has a bubbly personality. She is veryShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : My Family907 Words   |  4 PagesMy Home Friends are like family that you are able to choose. I never understood the truth that statement held until i met the group of people I now consider to be my best friends. For years i spent a lot of time by myself. Most of my friends were acquaintances that I only spoke to at school. As a nervous fourteen year old, high school was a lot of things in my head. Most of all it seemed lonely. My biggest fear was being all alone. Little did I know that I would acquire a bunch of loud goofballsRead MorePersonal Statement : My Family1272 Words   |  6 Pagesperfectly happy on my own, just me, myself, and I. The only person I ever had to be concerned about was myself. My parents were just about always busy, and I sometimes even had to spend my days at my mom’s work office. Dad was always doing something and worked late. I had a good group of friends, and they were all I needed, right? But once my family adopted a little boy, I was never alone. I learned more about the meaning of fam ily. As soon as that little boy was part of my family, I as a person, changedRead MorePersonal Statement : My Family1082 Words   |  5 PagesI have been feeling a combination of emotions after hearing some very interesting news from my family. I feel is confusion of being shocked, upset and excitement which I share with my siblings or my wife. I wonder, is this true? How could it be? We were one big happy family, but now I don’t understand. My siblings and my wife all have provided me comfort, which has been very helpful. I was the youngest of seven; with five sisters and one brother. Now, I find out I have two brothers. I grew up beingRead MorePersonal Statement : My Family1272 Words   |  6 Pagesperfectly happy on my own, just me, myself, and I. The only person I ever had to be concerned about was myself. My parents were just about always busy, and I sometimes even had to spend my days at my mom’s work office. Dad was normally always doing something and worked l ate. I had a good group of friends, and they were all I needed, right? But once my family adopted a little boy, I was never alone. I learned more about the meaning of family. As soon as that little boy was part of my family, I as a personRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Family915 Words   |  4 Pagesstart from my roots, which is my family. They have shaped me in more ways than one, from making me a strong person by constantly testing my sensitive points, to helping me pave a better path in life by teaching me not to make the same mistakes they did. They have impacted my life, not only mentally, but physically as well. They gave me help I needed, even when it was unwanted, and without that I wouldn’t be the southern, social, and sweet Sarah I am today. Just as my family has shaped my life sociallyRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Family924 Words   |  4 PagesMy family has always been supportive of my actions, which I believe has helped influence my behavior. My mo m is my number one supporter. It is learning from her that has shaped my continued academic pursuit despite my grief. I have a hard time making decisions and majority of the time I relay on my family to help me make decisions. My mother has always taught me to be my own person. This means to think, speak, and act unique. I have lived by this saying for many years. As a child growing upRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Family1000 Words   |  4 Pagestraits are essential to becoming a multifaceted person. My family has assisted in my growth and thought process over the years. It is a privilege to have such a group of knowledgeable individuals accessible to me. My family has given me the discernment of encouragement, financial management, and spirituality. My mother has always been supportive of all my endeavors. I was taught from an early age that I could achieve all of my desired goals. My intentions needed to be pure and a fresh perspectiveRead MorePersonal Statement : My Family2660 Words   |  11 Pagesis. Although some things have changed and it’s not like before, I still love my father. There was a tragic event that took place in my family’s life; it affected me and made me a different person after that incident. I have learned that going through hard times makes you stronger, and I want to let people know that giving up should not be an option or choice in our life. I have realized the importance of my family in my life because they are the only ones who are there for us till the end. We allRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Family2150 Words   |  9 Pagesespecially true to me. I would not be who I am today without my family, experiences and relations that I have made throughout the years. Those influences a lso contribute to who they want to be and what they want to do in the future. From family to friends to culture to experiences, I believe that my past and present have and will deflect or project me into my future. My family has been a major part of my life by influencing key portions of my life. Financial issues, morals, responsibilities, and rudimentaryRead MorePersonal Statement : My Childhood, Adventure, And Quality Family Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout my childhood, my mother made an effort to cultivate my interests and hobbies. Despite being impoverished, particularly after her divorce when I was five, she sought out opportunities to camp, travel, and educate me. She read me stories before bed every night, and strived to maximize the time we spent together. This young exposure to expedition, adventure, and quality family time promoted within me my most positive, deeply rooted characteristics. I am curious and independent; I need to

Leading to the Modern Woman Free Essays

I have read numerous things that say men are the superior gender but after all of this research and learning the stuff that I have, I think that women are the superiors. Women have learned to overcome a lot of obstacles through the years and have come out for the better. We are still improving the rights of women, we have come a long way and will keep moving forward. We will write a custom essay sample on Leading to the Modern Woman or any similar topic only for you Order Now Neal, R. S. Working -Class Women and Women’s Suffrage Labor History, No. 12 (May 1967) up. 16/34 ASTOR database) This Journal entry talks about the emancipation of women. The Journal states that historian says â€Å"It was during the industrial revolution moreover, and largely one because of the economic opportunities it afforded to working-class women, that here was the beginning of that most important and most beneficial of all social revolutions of the last two centuries, the emancipation of women. † I think this Journal will help with my paper because women found a way to get over the obstacles in their lives and being emancipated was one of the first obstacles. Tyler-McGraw, Marie, Parlor Politics: Women and Reform. 890-1925, Page 260 of 260-264 ASTOR database) The Journal of American History, Volvo 78, No. 1 None, 1991) This Journal is about and exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum. This exhibition links female dominated areas such as the parlors, tenement rooms, and the talented houses. This exhibition is good for my research because it covers the thirty-five year period of women reform. Johnson, Karen A. The Journal of African American History, Volvo. 91, No. 1. The African American Experience in the Western States (Winter, 2006) up 4-22, Undaunted Courage and Faith: The lives of Three Black Women in the West and Hawaii in the Early 19th Century. ASTOR database) Three African American women are written about in this article. These three women talk about how African American women participated in movements for politics, ideological and social currents. They also talk about how this changed lives for African American people and other westerners. I chose article for one of my references because I think African American women had a rough life. When they were able to move onto their own land and prosper, they showed spunk and showed they were not giving up. Golden, Claudia, D. The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment, The American Economic Review, Volvo 81, No. 4 (Seep, 1991) up 741-756 ASTOR database) I found this article interesting. It talks about the sass’s is the break with the past that war actually women needed. A lot of women that entered the work force during the stopped working at the conclusion of the war. There are some statistics in this article that I also found interesting in my research McCarty, Mary A, A Strange Stirring: The Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the asses by Stephanie Cocoon (review) Journal of Social History, Volvo. 6 No. 4 summer 2013, up 1068-1070 This Journal is a review of the book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedman. The book talks about â€Å"the problem that has no name†, the beliefs that undermine women’s intellectual capabilities and kept them in the home as housewives. Friedman wrote this book in a time when the average woman first married in her t eens and if they were in school 60 percent of them dropped out to marry. I find this book a good reference because it talks about an important part of women’s history. This is the 50th anniversary of this book, I am going to the library tomorrow to find it. I think it will be interesting to see how she wrote about it all and how times have changed. Patton, June O. Review: Essay Review l: African American Women, Civil Rights and Black Power, Sisters in the Struggle: African American Women in the Civil Rights- Black Power Movement by Betty Collier-Thomas, V. P. Franklin ASTOR database) This is a review of the original article (l am looking for it tomorrow at the library well). It explores the civil rights activities of black women’s organizations before 1950. There are several African American women covered and I find that they are influential to our history. Atwater, Deborah, F. Editorial: The Voices of African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement, Journal of Black Studies, Volvo 26 No. 5, Special Issue: May 1996, up 539- 542 I picked this article in my research because I think that learning about our history room people that actually experienced it is the best way to learn it. How to cite Leading to the Modern Woman, Papers

Critique of Confronting Child Sexual Abuse Essay Example For Students

Critique of Confronting Child Sexual Abuse Essay I believe the film Confronting Child Sexual Abuse enlightened myself on the service of CPS. To be a social worker you need to be able to deal with stress and to be able to leave the job at work when you go home. The case manager is responsible to assure that all the medical and educational needs of the child is meet. The case worker spends 40-50% of their time out in the field. The top priority of the social worker is to keep the parent and child together as long as the parent can get help to keep the child safe. Both the parent and the child need therapy. The parent needs it because now they are a parent of a child with special needs. Non-abusive parents sometimes see therapy as a sign of weakness. The social worker needs to see changes in the family. They want to see that the non-abusive parent is available for the child. If the non-abusive parent gets therapy they can learn the signs of sexual abuse. Children are taken out of the home if there is risk to the child to stay at home. They want the family to stay together if possible. Foster parenting is very hard responsibility. The foster parents have to sometimes deal with aggressive acting out, extreme depression, sexual acting out and sexualized behavior. After what the child has been through this is normal behavior. The social worker must assets to see if the child is safe to go back home. Try to make the social worker and the parent a team working on the behalf of the child.My general impression of the film was that it was very one sided. I believe it is important to learn the side of the social worker but I also believe it should express the side of the family and the child.