Sociology & the Scientific Method: Crash Course Sociology

The video explains how sociology is a science that uses the scientific method to study the social world. It introduces positivism, a philosophy that emphasizes objective, fact-based theories. The video discusses quantitative and qualitative research methods, highlighting the challenges of studying human behavior, such as the Hawthorne effect. It also covers interpretive sociology, which focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world, and critical sociology, which emphasizes the need for social change.

What distinguishes sociology from natural sciences like biology and physics?

• Sociology uses beakers and microscopes.

• Sociology explores the social world.

• Sociology does not use the scientific method.

• Sociology is not based on empirical data.

What is the primary focus of quantitative research in sociology?

• Exploring subjective experiences.

• Studying observable relationships using statistical methods.

• Investigating the need for social change.

• Understanding the meanings people attach to their actions.

Why is there often a gap between the mean and median income?

• The median is calculated by dividing the total income by the number of households.

• The mean is influenced by very high incomes.

• The median is affected by extreme values.

• The mean is always lower than the median.

What is a key characteristic of qualitative research in sociology?

• It relies heavily on numerical data.

• It focuses on measuring observable relationships.

• It is primarily concerned with statistical analysis.

• It uses interviews and observations to gather data.

What is the Hawthorne effect?

• A theory that explains the relationship between income and productivity.

• A statistical method used to analyze qualitative data.

• A phenomenon where people change their behavior when they know they are being observed.

• A type of bias that occurs in quantitative research.

How does interpretive sociology differ from positivist sociology?

• It focuses on statistical data.

• It seeks to understand the meanings behind actions.

• It relies solely on empirical evidence.

• It ignores subjective experiences.

What is the main goal of critical sociology?

• To study society without any bias.

• To focus on the need for social change.

• To analyze statistical data objectively.

• To explore the natural world.