The information that follows is related to Module 2 and is an introduction to the course.

RELATIONSHIPS AS CHOICE
  • Personal influences on choices
  • Structural influences on choices
  • Institutions
  • Groups
  • Status and Role
  • Cultural Influences
    • Beliefs
    • Values
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
  • Marriage
    • A system binding a man and woman together for reproduction, care and socialization of offspring, or a socially approved mating relationship.

  • Elements of Marriage
    • Legal contract
    • Emotional relationship
    • Sexual monogamy

  • Types of Marriage
    • Monogamy-one spouse
    • Polygamy-more than one spouse
    • Domestic Partnership-involves cohabitation or civil unions

  • Family
    • Group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

  • Types of Families
    • Family of orientation vs. family of procreation
    • Nuclear/binuclear vs. extended families


IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ON FAMILY
  • Pre-Industrial Revolution family was the economic unit.
  • Urbanization
  • Transportation
  • Rise of individualism
SOCIOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS OR THEORIES OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
  • Structural-Functional: Family is viewed as an institution providing societal stability along with other institutions.
  • Conflict: Conflict is natural since each family member often has differing goals and may want to gain power and resources in the family.
  • Feminist: Focus on female oppression and inequality in family relationships.
  • Symbolic Interaction: Family members give meaning to any given behavior and/or situation.
  • Family Development: Focus on the family and its changes throughout life.
  • Social Exchange: Family members weigh costs and benefits of all aspects of relationships.
  • Stratification and Race: Social class and racial background influence family life.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON FAMILIES
  • Sample vs. Population: Who was selected for the research?
  • Control Group: Group used in experiments and not exposed to the independent variable.
  • Cohorts: Different age groups utilized at different points in time.
  • Terms: How were the terms defined in the research?
  • Research Bias or Deception: Did the researcher follow a code of ethics?
  • Time Lag: How much time has passed since the research was completed?
THREE RESEARCH METHODS USED BY SOCIOLOGISTS
  • Survey and Interviews
    • Systematic way to collect data through questionnaires or interviews.
    • Strengths: Inexpensive, simple, often anonymous;
      interviews can be in-depth.
    • Weaknesses: Low response rate, individuals can lie, interviews can be expensive.

  • Observations
    • Systematically observe individuals in their usual/natural settings.
    • Participant observation: researcher is involved with subject's social world.
    • Non-participant observation: study without being involved in the situation.
    • Strengths: In-depth analysis enhanced by the natural setting, flexible; researcher can check out assumptions.
    • Weaknesses: Takes a lot of time and money; researcher can become overly involved in setting.

  • Secondary Analysis
    • Examine data other people have collected, often includes historical records, personal documents, official statistics, and public records.
    • Strengths: Inexpensive, accessible, and much of the data is longitudinal (collected over time) instead of cross-sectional (collected at one point in time).
    • Weaknesses: May not have the exact data researcher needs, definitions of variables may be different, and some documents/data are incomplete.
Last modified: Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 4:47 PM