...“Observation at Local Fast Food Restaurant During Lunch” Author: XXXXX XXXXX XXX University Introduction to Sociology “Observation at Local Fast Food Restaurant at Lunch” Have you ever tried listening to everything going on at the same time at a fast food restaurant during the lunch time rush hour? Well, I did and I am going to share the results of my whirlwind encounter last week. Within my observation, I will go over the layout of the establishment in which my observation was conducted, as well as who came to the establishment, the conversations and the interactions that took place. I hope you enjoy my observation and respect my findings from this visit. The place I chose for my observation is approximately 4000 square foot, with a counter for ordering with cash registers, a kitchen or cooking area directly behind the ordering counter and a drink and condiment area. For dining in there are two separate sections within the restaurant and I chose to sit in the more populated section directly on the other side of the drink and condiment counter, with four tables on one side and three on the other. I chose to go at 12:30 pm, where I assumed that there would still be a large lunch crowd as my choice in locations tends to be quite busy at this time. When I arrived in the parking lot and walked through the entrance, the kitchen area was busy with everyone doing their own particular jobs, and the sound of a fryer’s alarm sounding off, to alert the workers...
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...several different types of observation. Firstly, we can distinguish between non-participant observation and participant observation. Non-participant observation involves the researcher simply observing the group or event without taking part in it. Participant observation involves the researcher actually taking part in the event or everyday life of the group while observing it. Secondly, we can distinguish between overt observation and covert observation. Overt observations refer to the researcher being open about their intentions in the field and ensuring all members of the social group are aware of what is happening. Covert observations involve the researcher not informing members of the group the reason for their presence; keeping their true intentions secret. In this essay I am going to focus mainly on overt observation. Firstly, I am going to focus on the practical advantages of overt observation. Overt participant observation may give access to groups who could not be studied covertly because the researcher does not have the same characteristics as the group. Overt participant observation makes it possible to gain access to groups where the researcher does not have the usual qualifications for entry such as being the right age, gender or ethnicity. The fact the researcher is involved with the group they are studying in an open way means it is relatively easy to generate and record data, especially in comparison with covert participant observation where the fact of being...
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...There are two types of observation, covert and overt. The difference between them is that covert observation is when the people being observed do not know they’re being watched or studied, and overt observation is when they have been told and given consent to be observed by the researcher. Observation can also be done in two ways. This is called participant and non-participant observation. In participant observation the observer joins a group and observes their activities, while at the same time taking care to observe what is going on. Often that means writing notes and reflections later on. In Non Participant observation, the sociologist simply observes the activities, but doesn’t take part in them. For example OFSTED; he or she is watching the lesson you are in, but they aren’t teaching, and they aren’t acting as a student. Everyone knows why they are there and often wish they weren’t observing them. A strength of participant observation is validity. It gives us an authentic understanding of the world views of social actors. This understanding is particularly important when researching issues such as classroom interaction and labeling in schools. The power difference between young people and adults is a major barrier to uncovering the real attitudes and behavior of pupils. They may present a false image when being observed by an adult researcher, thus undermining validity. Nevertheless, observation is more likely than most methods to overcome this problem, because it...
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...Introduction to Sociology Nandy Nedd Essay Outline #1 Title: “Sociology is the systematic observation of social behavior” Introduction: Sociology is the science of society. Body: * Science is defined as the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena, Sociology is a science because it uses the methodologies of observation, experiment, comparison and historical research to understand social behavior whereas Interpretive Sociology goes on assumptions about how we come to know about social phenomena. * Using the positivist approach which assumes that an objective reality exists “out there”, Sociologists study this reality without changing it any way, they strive to remain objective so that their own attitudes and beliefs do not influence their results whereas in the Interpretive approach, lived experience may be distorted by false consciousness and ideology * In A general View of Positivism, Comte (1798 – 1857) argues that “the primary object of positivism is to generalize our scientific conceptions and to systemize the art of social life, According to him; true knowledge is based on experience of senses and can be obtained by observation and experiment, while it is for our heart to suggest our problems, it is for the intellect to solve them. * In his book “Rules of Sociological Method”, Durkheim writes –“The first and most fundamental rule is – consider social facts as things.” By...
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...integrated with the contextual milieu or qualitative variances (Williamson, 2006). According to Nomalungelo (2012), the positivist viewpoint is aligned with traditional western-based science, limiting in its integration of research with other qualitative approaches, paradigms and world views. Conversely, constructivism, as described by Nomalungelo (2012), is knowledge produced from intersection of human interaction and social processes, resulting in dynamic development of qualitative knowledge as the viewer creates varying interpretations from a continuously shifting, contextual social reality. Therefore, the discovery of new meanings and realities are reached by various observers, so that no one perspective mediates the reality. In sociology, according to Tischler (2011), the objective is to engage the scientific method acquiring better knowledge and understanding of human behavior in social situations, thus looking for patterns and predictability of behavior among people and society. Regarding cultural anthropology, social scientists study...
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...Task 4 Laura Simmerman, RN GLT1 Issues Behavioral Science Undergrad October 20, 2014 Sociology is the study of social behaviors. In social science or sociology, there are two specific research methods commonly used. Social anthropology is considered the holistic study of humanity. This field promotes culture as a scientific concept. Anthropologists use the study of social anthropology as the means of studying how culture affects how people adapt to their environment in non-genetic ways. In both sociology and cultural anthropology there are 2 large categories of research. Quantitative research is quantifiable, meaning measureable, and is collected by analysis. The collection must be able to be counted or mathematically calculated. In general, the idea of doing quantitative research is to be able to apply statistics to large populations of people. On the other hand, qualitative research involves interviewing or observing people. It helps us understand the “experience, meaning of life worlds, the essences of experience, the attentive practice of thoughtfulness, and caring attunements is extended” (Munhall, 1989). Qualitative research is able to be present with not only social research but experimental, linguistic, and cultural context research. It helps us study the human experience. Subcategories of these research methods will be discussed in comparison to sociology and cultural anthropology. When researching a hypothesis there is a research approach catered to each...
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...Sociology is the study the behaviors of people, groups, and the society they live in throughout their lives. Sociologists use different research methods when studying society and the behaviors of society. Two common research methods used are experiments and surveys. Experiments Experiments allow sociologists to learn more about a particular subject by performing scientific testing of a hypothesis, this allows them to observe the cause and effects of each variable. It is considered one of the most reliable methods in researching the study of society. Surveys Surveys come in the form of questionnaires, interviews, or telephone poll. These methods allow researchers to ask specific questions on variety of topics; then analyze the data collected and find specific patterns (Crossman, 2014). Questionnaires are distributed to a large group of individuals usually through the mail or email, and are made up of open-ended questions. Interviews are typically face-to-face or by telephone, this method allows the individual to give more detail to their answers. A telephone poll contains pre-defined questions on a specific product or service, most often used to obtain the consumer’s opinion on that product or service. Surveys are the best method of collecting statistical information quickly from a large number of individuals. The results are often unbiased as most often the data is submitted anonymously. Cultural anthropology is the study of the development of human cultures...
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...Is Sociology a Science? Intro: What is Science vs. what is Sociology? The term “science” refers the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. Objectivity is seen as an important part of the scientific process, and involves value freedom and open-mindedness. Sociology may want to be a science due to modernity and the rise of technology. Scientists may be interested in how individual’s actions are influenced by the rise of technology and the secularisation of religion. Thus they may conclude that the only way in which they can be studied is through observations and experiments, such as lab experiments; which take place in controlled factors with controlled factors, as Popper suggests, science involves the hypothetico-deductive method to test through research. Also positivists argue that it should be a science when studying social facts. Arguably, Sociology wouldn’t want to be seen as a science, as the association with science connotes that we are dealing with emotionless electrons and atoms, as opposed to people with feelings and emotions. Thus some would disagree with the idea that objectivity that is associated with studying people within society, which science influences, as we are people and we cannot disconnect ourselves from society. For example, it is not simple to disconnect yourself when studying a rape or murder case. Positivism is the...
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...Sociological investigation begins with two key requirements: 1. Apply the sociological perspective. 2. Be curious and ask questions. B. Sociology is a type of science, a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation. Science is one form of truth. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, or information we can verify with our senses. C. Scientific evidence sometimes contradicts common sense explanations of social behavior. 1. SOCIOLOGY IN FOCUS BOX (p. 28)—Is What We Read in the Popular Press True? The Case of Extramarital Sex. Every day, we see stories in newspapers and magazines that tell us what people think and how they behave. But a lot of what we read turns out to be misleading or even untrue. Take the issue of extramarital sex, which refers to a married person having sex with someone other than his or her spouse. A look at the cover of many of the so-called women’s magazines you find in the checkout aisle at the supermarket or a quick reading of the advice column in your local newspaper might lead you to think that extramarital sex is a major issue facing married couples. II. Three Ways to Do Sociology. There are three ways to do research in sociology: positivist sociology, interpretive sociology, and critical sociology. A. Positivist Sociology. 1. Scientific sociology is the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior. The scientific orientation to knowing, called positivism, assumes that an objective reality exists. 2. Concepts...
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...Behavioral Sciences Subdomain 111.6 Shelly Hawley Western Governor’s University There are several research methods used in sociological studies, scientists use qualitative and quantitative research to study the organization of society(Mcleod, S.A., 2008). Qualitative data is information acquired through participant observations and is reported in the words of the informant. Quantitative data is gathered by measuring things and is analyzed by statistical inferences and numeric comparisons(Minichiello et al.,1990, p.5). Scientist use qualitative research to gather information that is not numerical in form such as openended questionnaires or unstructured observations. This type of is more descriptive and is more difficult to analyze. Qualitative research is a suitable method to identify how individuals think and feel such as case studies(Mcleod, S.A., 2008). Qualitative data requires that participant responses are accurate which can be difficult to describe. It is helpful if quotations from participant interviews in the studies are used to illustrate points of the analysis(Mcleod, S.A.m 2008). The individual conducting the research should have knowledge in the area being studied in order to get a proper interpretation of the data. Unstructured group interviews can be an example of a qualitative research method. This study would generate data by using open ended questions in which individuals respond in their own words. Res...
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...Why Study Sociology? What is sociology? Sociology is the scientific study of human social relationships and structures. Like biologists and other natural scientists, sociologists work by sets of rules through which they evaluate the arguments and evidence generated by empirical research. This doesn't mean sociological work is either narrow or lacking in practical significance. Our techniques range from computer simulation through survey research to participant observation of urban street corner life. Styles among sociologists vary from the scientific to the humanistic, from the applied to the theoretical. Sociology involves the observation and explanation of human behavior in a wide variety of areas. In addition to the specialties of social psychology, political sociology, and mathematical sociology, which have obvious ties to other social sciences, sociologists study such things as race relations, social stratification, the family, the community, ethnic minorities, sex roles, drugs, crime, population, leisure, sport, aging, mass media, developing nations, organizational structure, communication in small groups and in dyads. Is sociology for you? If you are actively concerned about the world you live in and want to do something constructive and useful in it - whether in law, business, education, medicine, urban or rural planning, etc. sociology provides our best means for understanding how "the system" works. Whether you want to change society radically, modify it, preserve...
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...Issues in behavioral Science Jan.3, 2013 Research Methods Sociology and Cultural anthropology both rely on data to analyze their research. Their investigational approaches differ in many ways. This paper will explore the research methods used in sociology and the research methods used in cultural anthropology and also discuss the philosophical justification for these research methods. Sociology explores an individual’s behavior and how those behaviors are shaped and affected by the societies they take part in. Sociologist use research methods such as participant observation and surveys to collect their data. In participant observation the researcher spends an extended amount of time in the research location, this is also known as field work (sociology.com, 2013). While at the location the researcher’s gathers information while directly interacting with the participants being observed. They immerse themselves into the culture to better understand the participants being studied. Surveys are another method used for social research. Surveys can gather a large amount of information from various types of sources to research a certain subject. Surveys can come in the form of questions or interviews. The ability of a survey to gather information, quickly, and without manipulation to the subject makes it philosophically justified. Today’s internet technology helps surveys...
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...Chapter 2 – Examining the Social World: How Do We Know? Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology • Social thought before sociology: strongly influenced by religion and philosophy • Modern sociology arose in 19th century Europe, influenced by several conditions: – Colonialism: exposure to other cultures – Industrial Revolution & French Revolution: desire to know how dramatic change could be systematically explained – Advances in the natural sciences: desire to apply scientific method to the social world Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology August Comte & the science of society • Coined the term “sociology” in 1838 • Thought society’s problems could not be understood by philosophical or religious speculation; scientific knowledge was needed • Two main concerns – What holds society together? (social statics or structure) – Why is there change in society? (social dynamics or process) Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology Early sociology after Comte • Focus on massive social and economic change brought by Industrial Revolution • Focus on relationship between micro-, meso-, and macro-level processes • Early sociological theorists: Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Harriet...
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...Republic of the Philippines Naval State University Naval, Biliran In In Assignment SOCIOLOGY Submitted By: OLIVER B. JAGUINES BSCpE – IIA Student Submitted To: Mrs. Ma. Joan Delda Instructor Auguste Comte (1798-1857) The legitimacy of sociology started when the term was coined by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, and from that time on, sociologist have sought to be more scientific in their methods and more systematic in their observations. Comte’s significant contributions to advance sociology to the frontiers of human knowledge earned for him the title “Father of Sociology”. * His contribution to sociology can be divided into four categories. They are namely: (1) Classification and ordering of social sciences. (2) The nature, method and scope of sociology. (3) The law of three stages. (4) The plan for social reconstruction. (5) Positivism. * The law of human progress, states that each of our leading conceptions, each branch of knowledge, all human intellectual development, pass successively through three different theoretical conditions – the theological or fictitious, the metaphysical or abstract, and the scientific or positive. * Theological or Fictitious Stage: During the primitive stage, the early man believed that all phenomena of nature are the creation of the divine or supernatural. The primitive man and children do not have the scientific outlook; therefore it is characterized by unscientific outlook. They failed to discover...
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...produce unanticipated and harmful outcomes (Vaughan,1999). It is often an unintended consequence of the normal activities of actors within an organization” (Fox & Harding 2005) Sociology- scientific study of human behavior, social groups, and society. * As stated by the American Sociological Association, sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and the consequences of human behavior. The term social life encompasses all the interpersonal relationships, all groups or collections of person, and all types of social organizations. The “Causes and consequences of human behavior” encompass how these relationships, groups, and organizations are interrelated; how they influence personal and interpersonal behavior; how they affect and are affected by the larger society, how they change or why they remain static; and what the consequences are of these factors. This definition reflects the belief that people can be understood only in the context of their contacts, associations, and communications with other people. The very heart of sociology then its concern with the complexities and subtleties of human social life makes it a discipline that is highly relevant not only to professional sociologists, but also to people in virtually every line of work and at every level. * Thus sociology may consider a wide range of general questions such as the following; HOW DO GROUPS INFLUENCE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR? Social Imagination- quality of mind that allows us to...
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