Exercise One

How do sociologists see the world? "What difference does it make to me?" you might ask. Let's examine the sociological perspective to see how it differs from other views of human social life.

Do you read a newspaper everyday? Your answer to this question is certainly a matter of personal choice. Whether you answer yes or no, a sociologist would no doubt be curious about your response. But, more likely a sociologist might ask a variety of questions. Are you like other Americans? What is happening to newspaper readership in our society? What forces produce this outcome?

Check this General Social Survey.

These data are presented in a table generated by a frequently used statistical package (SPSS). Look at the row (remember rows go across, columns go up and down) labeled "EVERYDAY." For every year that data are presented, record the year and the percent of people who say they read a newspaper "Everyday." Now answer the following:

1. For the most recent year, are most Americans like you in terms of daily readership?
2. Over the years for which data were collected, what is happening to the percentage of people who read a newspaper everyday? Now, use your sociological imagination - What are some of the social factors that have caused this?

Exercise Two

The sociological perspective is handy because it can be applied to so many different and interesting areas. Think about it for a minute. What areas could use a little sociology? Let's take a look at a list.

1. List some areas that interest you that you believe could be viewed sociologically.
2. Now, check out  this listing of Sociological Subject Areas.
3. Is there anything on your list that matches here? If so, click on it and review the findings.
4. It you can't make a connection choose 3-5 of the ones at the site and follow the links. There's no telling where these links might lead!
5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of sociology's breadth?
   

Exercise Three

Overview

How do sociologists know anything? Sociologists are scientists who study human interaction at many levels. The methods and techniques employed usually fall into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Let's compare these two research approaches.

Let's start by looking at a common "quantitative" method use by sociologists: the survey. Go to  this overview on data collection techniques.

1. Read the discussion on selecting a data collection technique. 
2. Now, move to the middle of the page and click on "comparison of three techniques." 
3. What are the three survey techniques described here? How are they similar and different? Under what circumstances is it best to use each? 

4. What is a focus group?

Using information from both links, answer the following:

5. How do focus groups compare with surveys? How are they similar and how are they different? 
6. How could the two techniques complement each other?

Exercise Four

Sociology and sociologists maintain a vast network of resources, organizations and individuals that support the field. Let's explore some of the organizations that support sociology.

Exercise

To get an initial view of the breadth of sociological organizations and resources go to this excellent sociology links page.

1. Spend some time just investigating the information on this site!
2. Now, summarize the basic categories of information that you've found here.
3. Finally, make some comparisons:
   1. Compare two or more professional associations.
   2. Compare two or more regional associations, and
   3. Compare two or more organizations in different international locations.
4. Summarize your thoughts on the nature of the variety of these organizations.

Exercise Five

By now you are probably aware of sociology's breadth.  The field easily extends from the interaction among "selves" to the interaction among societies.  Let's get an understanding of the variety of topics that a professional sociologist might investigate.

One place to start is to identify the largest single professional organization for sociologists, the American Sociological Association.  Go to  the ASA Homepage.

Exercise One

Practicing sociologists (and many other professionals as well!) are called on to conduct program evaluations. After investing time, money and resources in a project, it would not be surprising or unreasonable to ask if the project "did what it was supposed to do." Evaluation skills are useful tools.

Exercise

Go to the American Evaluation Association site.
Evaluation design requires guidelines for implementation.

Make sure to check out the AEA Guiding Principles for Evaluators.

1. What are the major categories of guidelines that are recommended for project or program evaluation?
2. What are some of the sociological perspectives and methods that might be used in an evaluation?
3. What would be some of the obstacles for performing a good evaluation?

Exercise Two

Whether you're presenting your sociological information to an academic audience or a business client, making a good presentation is essential. Having some basic presentation skills can be extremely valuable.

Exercise

First, let's find something to present.
Go to:   The National Association for Educational Statistics 

1. Review the material on this site.  What are the key variables and information presented here?
   

   Now, suppose you need to make a presentation on the findings on this site to a group of businessmen and businesswomen who have assembled because of their concern for providing realistic work opportunities for dropouts.
   How would you do it?

   Go to:   INVALID LINK, SITE CHECKED 10/15

2. Review all the articles on this site that would help you make your presentation.
3. Provide a brief outline of your presentation employing some of the suggestions on this site.

Exercise Three

Practicing sociology means identifying, investigating and solving problems.  There are many processes for problem analysis that can be valuable tools for you regardless of the career that you seek. Let's look at one of these.

Exercise

Investigate the process for analyzing problems at this Creative Problem Solving site.

1. Review the process.  What are its basic steps?
2. Compare this to the scientific method.  How is it similar? How is it different?
3. Now, select a problem (whether from your workplace, college, family or your imagination). Use this process to analyze it.
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this process?

Exercise One

While sociologists and other social scientists often debate over the best tools to do research, none would doubt the wide variety of tools that are available. Let's turn to this large toolbox for a moment.

Exercise Go to the toolbox.

Review the large spectrum of tools that are available to sociologists.

1. Sociologists need to learn a vast repertoire of tools and skills to do their work.  What are some of the techniques and skills that look interesting to you?
2. Now, do a quick content analysis of the items that appear on this page. What categories of tools do sociologists need to learn?

Sociologists are social scientists. If we emphasize the "science" part of social sciences, we realize that sociologists have a great deal in common with all scientists: biologists, psychologists, physicists, chemists, anthropologists, etc. The common thread is the use of the scientific method. Let's review this perspective.

Exercise
Here are some websites that address the scientific method. What do that have in common?

• Biology

• Field research

• Twin Grove School District

Exercise Three

Sociologists are known for doing survey research.  While surveys aren't the only research method that we use, they are a valuable and common tool.

Go to this site for data collection selection and answer the following questions:

1. What are reliability and validity? How do reliability and validity influence survey construction?
2. What is bias?  How does bias impact on survey construction?
3. Now click on "Comparison of three techniques." Compare and contrast the three types of surveys identified here. State a research problem that could best be dealt with for each type of technique.

Exercise Four

Social scientists use a variety of tools to analyze data. Graphic and statistical tools are essential.  This is a situation in which a few good tools can be extremely powerful.

• Go to this Measures of Central Tendency site and review the the material. Since sociologists are interested in one number that stands for a group, this information will be helpful.

• Sometimes it's easier if we have a picture of information.
  Go to this informative Charts & Graphs site. Scroll down to the middle of the page and review bar graphs, line graphs and circles (pie) graphs.

Exercise Five

Let's use this basic research tool, the survey, to deal with an application of the sociological perspective to a real life situation.

Exercise

Go to this data collection site.

Exercise One

Culture is a way of life and while each individual acts that “way of life” a little differently, we can improve our interaction with persons across cultures if we understand and respect the “ways” of life in which we find ourselves.  This is one of the great strengths of sociology.  Let’s see how understanding culture can be of value to you. 

You’ve decided to do some cross cultural consulting and determine that you would be better off if you met your clients in person rather than by Internet or telephone.

Before you go on your trip, go to the Web of Culture.

1. Select three countries outside the U.S. that you plan to visit on your business trip.
2. For each country, review each of the following:
   1. Cuisine
   2. Currency
   3. Language
   4. Gestures
   5. Religion
3. Select 1 or more items of your choice
4. Compare and contrast the countries you have selected on the items listed above.
5. How would these differences influence your interaction with your client?

Exercise Two

Review the concept of culture.  While sociologists and anthropologists often use this idea at a global level, it has other uses as well. Review the concepts that relate to culture: norms, values, beliefs, ethnocentrism and cultural relativity.  Then, work on the exercise to follow.

Exercise

Review three of the descriptions of the companies at the Work and Family Connection. Think of each company as a "corporate culture."  That is, each company has its own culture within.  While we can't be completely sure from the description provided, assess each of the cultures for the companies that you have selected.  Indicate: 

1. The difference in the way of life in each culture. 
2. The core values, or the central things that appear to be valued in each. 
3. What would it be like to work for these companies? 
4. How would the culture influence the way that work is done in each? 

Comparing cultures is difficult.  As you are learning, ways of life vary greatly.  Traveling internationally will challenge your views of other cultures and your own.  Let's make some comparisons. 

Exercise

Nations are not quite the same as cultures, but you can get a sense of cultural difference by comparing national similarities and differences.  Go to: The World Factbook. 

Do the following: 

1. What is the source of this web site?  Any thoughts? 
2. Now select two different continents in turn. Now select one country on each continent. 
3. What categories of information are provided for each country? 
4. Now compare and contrast the two countries across the categories of information provided? 
5. How are they similar and different? 
6. Now use your sociological imagination - What would it be like to live in each? 

Exercise One

Many factors influence the socialization of youth in a society. What are these factors? What impact do they have?  Let’s look at some indicators of youth in the U.S. 

Exercise

Let's view a younger segment of the population. Go to this Youth Indicators site.

1. Who runs this site?  This site views 69 “youth indicators.”  What are “indicators?” What are the categories of the indicators that you find here? 
2. Now select at least one indicator from each category, click on it and review the data. 
3. For each indicator that you have chosen, do the following: 
   1. Write a brief 2-3 sentence paragraph that summarizes the condition presented by this indicator. 
   2. Now use your sociological imagination – What impact will this have on the lives of the youth presented? 
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of assessing the condition of youth by using this indicator's strategy? 

Socialization is a process in which norms, values, and beliefs are passed to another person. In this process, this individual person becomes a social self.  This process is life-long and we are often resocialized. Let’s compare some processes and programs that intend to resocialize people. 

Browse and compare the resocialization that is presented or discussed in each of the following 3 sites.Compare and contrast the similarities and differences in the target (who?) of the resocialization, purpose, method and anticipated outcomes for each. 

• Texas Youth Commission  (Click on  “Basic Correctional Treatment – Resocialization”) 
• Parent Education 
• Some Basic Training 

Social structure is a term sociologists use often.  The term implies action driven by norms; persistent, patterned organized action. These established and systematized patterns produce predictable outcomes. At a macro level, societies are viewed as structured on a number of factors – age, gender, race, and social class, to name a few. Let’s look at an example.

Exercise

While sociologists are quick to admit that an individual’s action at the micro level relies on a measure of personal choice, we also hold that large portions of these choices are structured in and can be attributed to larger social structures.
Go to this wide ranging stats, tables, charts and graphs site. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through some of the links on the page. 
3. Now click on “Tobacco use.” 
4. How do race, age and gender appear to impact on the use of tobacco? 
5. What changes in tobacco use do you see in the U.S. over the time frames presented? 
6. What other variables might account for the patterned use of tobacco? 

Exercise Two

Using the concept of social structure can be empowering.  In fact, implementing structure can be a valuable applied skill.  While the structure is often viewed at a macro level, it has great importance at the “meso” or middle level as well.  Let’s look. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through some of the links on the page. 
3. Did sociologists design this structure? 
4. Click on “social structure” and work through the links. 
5. What elements are included in this structure, that is, what things were structured? 
6. What can we learn from this example? 
    

Key to establishing relationships is social interaction.  This interaction may occur in a variety of ways.  Let’s try our hand at some possible interactions. 

Here are some sites that attempt to connect sociology students – they encourage interaction.

• Sociological Omnibus Cafe

• SOCTALK Listserv 

1. What impact might these sites have on students in sociology? 
2. What value do they have to you? 
3. How is this interaction different than a person-to-person discussion about sociology? 

The coming of cyberspace has changed interaction.  Is face-to-face interaction gone forever?  What differences can we expect from social interaction on the computer versus face-to-face?  Let’s see. 

Here is one person’s view of the differences in interaction - computer versus face-to-face. Copy this interesting study and report  to your word processor, format it to your liking and read it closely.

1. What was investigated in this article? 
2. What did the researcher discover? 
3. Do you agree?  What do you believe are the differences in these types of interactions? 

Exercise Three

Sociologists emphasize the importance of interaction in understanding human social patterns.  How does this work?  How can interacting produce patterns of action?  Let’s look at a possible answer. 

To answer this question we need to uncover a process that explains the products of interaction.  Go to this  Berger and Luckmann chapter.

1. Read this article carefully. 
2. How can human interaction produce society? 
3. What theoretical perspective in sociology does this article reflect? 
4. Use the process outlined in this article to explain the emergence of some everyday life situation. 
5. Does it work; that is, can the situation be explained by using information from this article? 

Exercise One

Sociology is the study of interactions and, hence, groups.  What does this mean?  We call many clusters of people “groups!”   Let’s get a definition. 

Exercise

Check out Elwell's Glossary of Sociology.

This glossary provides some on-line definitions of key sociology terms. Now, find definitions for each of the following:

1. Social groups 
2. Primary group 
3. Primary group structure 
4. 4. Secondary group 
5. 5. Secondary group structure 

Sometimes there’s nothing like going back to the original source to clarify understanding of a topic.  Let’s look at what the term “primary group” was intended to mean. 

Exercise

Go to this chapter on Primary Groups.

Exercise Three

Recently the importance of teamwork has made its way into American corporate life in the public and private sectors.  Knowledge of groups that we get in sociology is a great link to understanding teams, and another reason to understand sociology!  Let’s look. 

Exercise

Visit the Center for the Study of Workteams. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse the site.  Follow some of the links. 
3. What are some of the areas of interest explored here? 
4. How can a general understanding of groups and interaction help you understand teams? 
5. What occupations might use this skill? 
    

Business Process Reengineering has become part of daily life within organizations. What is it? Would an understanding of sociology be useful in understanding and implementing it? Let's find out.

Exercise

To get an understanding of business process reengineering go to this page from the Reengineering Resource Center web site.

1. Spend some time reviewing the links provided on this page. 
2. Try to determine what BPR is. In your own words, what would you say BPR is? 
3. Now link the sociology you have learned so far to the process of BPR.  In what ways is an understanding of sociology helpful here?

Organizations take on many shapes and forms, or structures.  Knowing the structure of an organization can be very helpful in understanding the nature of social interaction within it.

Exercise

As a basic overview of organizational structure, check this site out. 

Who leads a formal organization? How can an organization be led?  Leaders and leadership are topics of recent concern. 

Exercise

How can sociologists get involved in the process of developing leaders and leadership?  Go to the  Primedia Corporation.

1. What is this organization? What is its purpose? 
2. Consider the concepts that you've learned so far.  What does sociology as a field and/or sociologists have to bring to an organization such as the one on this site?

Crime is often viewed as one of the most obvious forms of social deviance. Law breaking has been the target of a great amount of social resources and public concern.  What is the general nature of crime? 

A very interesting starting point, and a useful site, is the Bureau of Justice Statistics.  BJS is a warehouse of data on crime.  Let's go there!

1. Take some time just to explore the site. Now, return to the home page and click on “search this site.”
2. When you get to the search engine, type in “trends” 
   1. Select and review the trends in crime in the United States from 1965- the most recent date in the data that have some interest to you. 
   2. How would you characterize the "overall" trend in crime? 
   3. Are there any types of crime that have varied differently than the overall trend? 
   4. Use your sociological imagination: What accounts for the differences in 3 and 4 above? 

Deviance and society’s response to it take numerous forms across cultures.  Let’s look at some variations on the theme of deviance: its definition and the response to it. 

1. Go to
   • Sociocultural Models
     and
     
   • American Religion WWW Resources

2. For each of these links, determine:
   1. How is deviance determined? 
   2. Who decides what is deviant? 
   3. What response is expected? 
   4. How are these similar and different? 

3. Now, apply this conceptualization of deviance to a selection of items on this site from Malaspina University. There are many possibilities here, choose among them.

4. Does the way one defines deviance have an impact on interpretation? 

Most of us are aware that income and wealth are not equally distributed in the United States.  But, to what extent is this the case?  If income inequality does exist, so what?  Does it really change the way people behave, the way they live, their opportunities?  Do subcultures of people, social class subcultures, different ways of living, emerge as a result of these differences? 

What is the general distribution income in families in the United States?   What percent of the total income does each 20%, that is each fifth, of the families in the U.S. get? To find out, go to this informative page from the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. Describe the distribution of income in the U.S. 
2. With respect to income distribution, overall, are things getting more equal or less equal? 
3. Use a sociological perspective. How did this distribution of income get this way?  Why are the categories different? What caused the differences? 
4. Use your sociological imagination - What impact does this income distribution have on society? 

We often look at social stratification - social layering - in our local community or in our nation.  Does stratification exist globally?  That is, does it exist across societies?  How can we find out? 

1. Start by going to the  World Bank's indicators data base.
2. Now, to begin to determine if layering exists in the “global village”, create a table in which you compare the United Sates to three other countries (Note: this exercise is not an attempt to reinforce stereotypes). 
3. Put the following in your table: 
   1. One country that you believe has a similar standard of living similar to the U.S. 
   2. One country that you believe has a standard of living lower than the U.S., but not the lowest in the world. 
   3. One country that you believe has a standard of living among the lowest in the world.
4. Click on “compare only years with data,” and compare these four countries (the U.S. and the three others) on the following indicators:
   1. Energy consumption per capita 
   2. GNP per capita (US$) 
   3. Illiteracy rate for the total population 
   4. Life expectancy at birth for the total population 
   5. Infant mortality rate 
   6. Upper poverty line, headcount (% of population)
5. Speculate from these indicators: How would life be different in each of these societies?
6. Is there reason to suggest that stratification exists globally? 

A segment of U.S. population lives in poverty.  But, what does it mean to live in poverty? 

The U.S. government has adopted a measurement scheme to identify those in poverty. See how this is done.

1. What characteristics does the government use to determine a level of poverty? 
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of using this measurement device to determine poverty? 
3. What characteristics would you use to make this distinction? 

Many Americans identify with the middle class. What does this mean?  Let's take a look. 

The Census Bureau addresses the notion of "middle class" in an interesting way. Take a look! 

Publicly and in sociology we often discuss minority groups.  What does it mean to have “minority status?”   What impact does it have on people? 

Go to this race and ethnicity page.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Read through the initial paragraphs.  Keep reading until you read the discussion of minority groups. 
3. What central features characterize a minority group? 
4. Browse through this site and explore the links. 
5. Do the racial and ethnic groups listed on this site conform to the minority group characteristics above?  Which ones? 
6. Must a “minority group” be a numerical minority?  Explain your answer. 

In a pluralistic culture, understanding the differences among the ways of life maintained by differing racial and ethnic groups is difficult, to say the least.  Let’s get some help in locating some references that compare selected racial and ethnic groups. 

Go to the American Studies Web site.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Spend some time just investigating the range of offerings on this page. 
3. Now, click on  “Race and Ethnicity.” 
4. Review the content of this link.  Which racial and ethnic groups are identified here? 
5. For each group, investigate at least one link and indicate what you found. 

Key to understanding gender differences between men and women from a sociological view is the patterned and different way that they are socialized.  Are there really patterned differences? 

Start here. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through some of the links on the page. 
3. According to those who run this site, what accounts for a large share of the differences between men and women? 
4. This group recommends a change in the way we socialize girls.  What are the strengths and weaknesses in things that they propose? 
5. Would these proposed recommendations have an impact on boys, too?  Explain. 

Understanding changing gender roles is valuable information in understanding a changing society.  Are there really issues that are gender specific?  Let’s consider this. 

Start your search by going to the Women's Studies Database.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through some of the links on the page. 
3. Now, scroll down to “gender issues” and click. 
4. What issues are suggested to be largely “gender issues?”  Why are they labeled this way? 
5. What impact do these issues have on women? What impact do these issues have on men? 

We hear a great deal about the elderly population in the U.S.  What are the characteristics of this group? Let's find out. 

Let's view the segment of the population that is over 65 years of age.

1. Describe the growth of this segment of the U.S. population?   How will this group grow over the next 50 years? 
2. What special needs will this group have as they age? 
3. Will the society need to change to accommodate these needs? 
4. What changes are likely? 

Taking a structural-functionalist approach, we would expect to see the emergence of an increasing number of voluntary and formal organizations in the presence of a major population change, such as the increasing number of elderly in American society.  These organizations arise to meet the personal and social needs of this group.  Has this happened for the elderly? 

Check out the Administration on Aging.

1. Search or check the Table of Contents and review the resources listed on this site. 
2. Categorize this list into 3-4 topics (such as Federal and state organizations, special needs organizations, and voluntary associations, for example). 
3. Visit some of these sites in each of the categories that you’ve created above.  For each site, indicate its purpose, the target population (the specific group it serves) and who funds it. 
4. How would you characterize these resources? 

Many social forces will influence the nature of life for aging persons.  What are some of these forces and how will they impact on the lives of this group? 

Review Aging into the 21st Century.

1. Who wrote this article? 
2. What are the four major categories of forces that will likely shape the lives of the elderly in the next century? 
3. For each category, click on the link and review the social forces that are identified.  Briefly note the impact that each is expected to have. 
4. How would you summarize the life of the elderly in the next century? 

Where could you go if you wanted to investigate health and wellness globally and within the United States?  While you -could search state-by-state you might start at a central source.  Let’s look at some of these sources. 

Let’s start by looking globally.  Go to  The World Heatlh Organization. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Click on search, and then search for a health related issue or illness. 
3. What did you find?   Are there any language barriers? 

Now let’s turn to the U.S.  Go to The Centers for Disease Control.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Click on search, and then search for the same health related issue or illness that you investigated above. 
3. What did you find? 
4. Stop by the employment section and see if there are any interesting jobs! 

Another source that might be interesting could be found at  The National Center for Health Statistics. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Click on search, and then search for the same health related issue or illness that you investigated above. 
3. What do you notice about this search site? 

How healthy is our society?  How would we know?  The need to understand the general health and wellness of a nation or a society is an important sociological focus. Let’s take a look. 

To start your briefing today, let’s go to the White House Briefing Room! 

1. Now, click on  “Health.” 
2. What are the indicators that are measured on this site? 
3. Review each graph and accompanying data. 
4. Summarize the information for each (“What is happening?”). 
5. How would you characterize this method of measuring health in a society? 

Do you or your family have health insurance?  If your answer is no, you know the concern you face when you need to have even basic health needs met. Healthy people have better chances of achieving their goals in life. But, is this access equal?  Does everyone have the same chance to have some or all of their medical and health needs paid for by insurance?  This Internet exercise looks at stratification as a force in the access to health care. 

Start your investigation by going to The U.S. Census Bureau. 

1. What is the general distribution of health insurance in the United States?  How many people have it, and what kind do they have?  How many people have it and how many don’t have it? 
2. What are the major sources of health insurance? 
3. Now go back to our friends at the Census Bureau. 
4. What factors influence the access to health insurance? 
5. What are the differences? 
6. Use your sociological imagination - What impact would these differences (if they exist) have on society? 

Monitoring the educational well being of a society is essential.  Cross cultural and internal comparisons on “just how well we’re doing” are often made by parents, teachers, politicians and individuals from all walks of life.  Let’s investigate some education indicators in the U.S. 

To start your briefing today, let’s go to the  White House Briefing Room! 

1. Now, click on “Education.” 
2. Name the indicators that are measured on this site? 
3. Review each graph and accompanying data. 
4. Summarize the information for each (“What is happening?”). 
5. How would you characterize this method of measuring education in a society? 

The impact of the Internet on education will continue to challenge the way we learn.  Let’s look at some of the courses that are available in higher education now! 

Today you’ll enter a different lecture hall! 
Go to:  Texas and the world.  
and/or:   Arizona and the WWW. 

1. Use the search engine at this site to explore some of the courses that you are currently taking or might like to take. Type in the key word of the course you’re interested in and see what happens. 
2. Enter one of the courses that you have found.  What is your assessment of the course at this site? 
3. What impact will this type of learning have on education in the United States? What impact will it have globally? What impact will it have on you? 

Where can you get a good start when you’re looking for data on education in the United States?  Let’s take a look at one clearinghouse for U.S. data on education. 

On our review of education, start by going to the  National Center for Education Studies. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Click on “Data and Surveys.”  Now review the list of research projects underway.  Note that in most cases the results are not available.  Rather, these are reviews of research and research design. How would you characterize the extent of the projects as presented here? 
3. Now use the search engine  from the NCES.
4. Use the search engine at this site to explore some areas of interest.  Start by typing “sociology.” 
5. Explore some of the data and data tables that are listed. 
6. Identify and write a brief summary of the findings in a table of your choice. 

What is the nature of American education?  Sometimes, amid the claims and controversy, it is difficult to know for sure.  Let’s take a look at U.S. education at three different levels. 

1. Return to the National Center for Education.
2. Now use their search engine . 
3. Now type “elementary education."  Search and browse through the information that emerges. Now, select one data source and summarize what you found. 
4. Now type “secondary education.”  Search and browse through the information that emerges. Now, select one data source and summarize what you found. 
5. Now type “postsecondary education.”  Search and browse through the information that emerges. Now, select one data source and summarize what you found. 

Two-career families and the changing nature of the way we raise children in the United States have had many impacts.  Did you ever wonder: “What do school-age children do with their time?”  Let’s find out? 

Explore the "Fact Sheet on School-Age Children" from the National Institute on Out-of-School Time at the Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College.

1. How do school age children generally spend their time? 
2. Why should anyone be concerned about this? 
3. What problems or issues are associated with the use of time by school-age children? 

Single parent families are a part of family life in the United Sates.  How prevalent is this form of family structure? What impact has it had on the way we raise children? 

Interpret the information in this Table on Children of Single Parents. 

This Graph on Family Formation represents the data in the table above.

1. How does single parent familihood vary according to this graph? 
2. How would you describe the prevalence of single parent families in the United States? 
3. What impact, if any, has this had on early socialization? 

Like many societal level or macro level characteristics, national economy is often measured using indicators.  Indicators are measures that stand for something that is happening.  Let's look at some indicators of the U.S. economy. 

First list the indicators provided in the site provided by the U.S. Census. 
 

Consider the impact of labor unions on your standard of living.  Labor unions have had a large impact not only on American economy, but also on our lifestyle. Let's see if we can get a sense of this impact. 

Visit and review the Labornet Site.

1. List the topics that appear to be of interest to labor union members on this page. 
2. Select 2-3 of these topics and follow their links.  Briefly describe what you found in each. 
3. Why do you believe that these topics were viewed as valuable? 

Economic Institutions: What Does the Job Situation Look Like? No doubt, one of the key reasons you're in college is to find a good job. Don't forget that jobs are roles ... they're sets of expectations and obligations for human action.  As such, they are connected to the economic institution which is affected by all other social institutions and societal forces.  In order to improve your chances in the "job search," it would be wise to investigate the direction society and the economic institution is headed. Let’s do this! 

1. What will tomorrow's jobs look like? Let's Let's find out!
2. Who runs this site? 
3. What is likely to occur with regard to employment growth between now and 2005?
4. What social forces are responsible for this change? 
5. How might this change affect you? 

Businesses and consumer groups actively use social science methods to track consumers.  In many ways, this is a direct application of sociological perspectives and methods.  Let’s review an example of a business-oriented look at social patterns. 

To start our search, check out  American Demographics.

1. Once you’re there, click on  “American Demographics: Consumer trends for business leaders.” 
2. Now, click on the lead article. 
3. How was a sociological perspective used in this article? 
4. Now, search some of the back issues.  Scan 3-5 articles. 
5. In general, how could sociology add value to the information presented? 

Sociology can be valuable in simply appreciating the breadth of religious beliefs in a society or cross-culturally.  How many religious groups can you name?  What do members of each group believe? 

1. List the religious groups that you can think of right now!  Take a few minutes with this. 
2. Now go to this listing of Religion subjects.
3. Browse through the site. Compare this list with yours.  Any additions needed? 
4. Now search the links for the religions that were originally in your list (the ones you knew about before this exercise).  Jot down anything new that you might discover. 
5. Now pick 1-3 religions that you either had not heard of or whose beliefs you were uncertain about. What did you discover? 
6. Use your sociological imagination: What impact does religion have on human social life? 

Can a religious movement be a social movement?  What is the breadth of religious movements?  Let’s find out. 

1. Take a look at New Religious Movements. 
2. Who runs this site? 
3. These profiles seek to look at a variety of religious movements. 
4. Scroll down the page and select 3-5 of these groups. 
5. Compare and contrast them (their “profile” and “beliefs”). 

Political changes are fast breaking and are often difficult to monitor.  They occur at each level of society: macro, middle range and micro.  Let’s see if we can grasp the range and the organization of political activity in the U.S. 

Start your tour of political structure.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Now, investigate this site – click on areas of interest that span different levels of social organization: national/international, state and local. 
3. Identify and briefly discuss what you found at each of these levels. 
4. Pick some areas that look like they would be fun!  What are they? What did you discover? 
5. How does your understanding of sociology help you understand these political elements of our society? 

Much of what we learn about politics is transmitted by the news media. Are the stories the same from newspaper to newspaper, television news station to news station?  Let's see! 

Many television network news services put their information on the Internet. Here are 3 different  Internet sites:

• ABC News 
• MSNBC 
• CBS News 

1. Determine if the story appears on the link. 
2. If it does appear, compare and contrast it with the way the other stories were presented. 
3. Do this for each of the remaining links. 
4. Now, how were these news reports similar and different?  If you found a difference, speculate as to why this might be so. 

Understanding human population - how many, what kind and how fast it is growing - is an essential sociological tool.  Let's get a general sense of some of the dimensions of human population. 

Go to the  Population Reference Bureau.

1. Spend some time reviewing the links on the site. 
2. Now try your hand at playing the "Demographic Challenge Game" by clicking the oval around the middle of the Bureau's homepage. How did you do? 

Census data are valuable in understanding the past, present and future transitions in population.  The U.S. Bureau of Census maintains a vast storehouse of data. 

Go to the  U.S. Census Bureau.

1. For fun, click on the "Census Clock," i.e. the Current U.S. Population Count.  How many people are in the U.S. population (indicate the time and date, too). 
2. Go back to the "Clock" 2 minutes later.  What is the population now? 
3. How did they do that??!! 
4. Now click on "Search," and go to the Census search function. 
5. Type in some key words or click on the first letter of a key word for which you would like some population information. 
6. What did you find? 

Community can appear in a variety of environments.  We often think about rural and urban communities within human societies, but let's turn to an emerging area in which community may reside. 

As a contractor for NASA you have been asked (because of your sociological background, of course) to advise the agency director on the basic factors that NASA should address when considering the development of space communities.

1. What factors would influence development of space communities? 
2. How would space communities likely be different than Earth communities?  How would they be similar? 
3. Identify 3-5 critical areas in which the agency director should address her attention. 

Most of us would agree that life in cities is different than suburban or rural living.  How is the size of a city associated with certain quality of life indicators?  Let’s find out. 

How do the 25 cities with the largest population rank with regard to crime and infant mortality?

1. Check out this census chart with your browser.
   [Note: When cities share the same rank, the next lower rank is omitted. CDP = census designated place].   Now, draw two graphs. On one, plot the rankings of city size on the x axis and the rank for the crimes/100,000 on the y axis.  Draw in a “best-fitting” straight line. On the second one, plot the rankings of city size on the x axis and infant death rates/1000 live births on the y axis.  Draw in a “best-fitting” straight line for each graph. 
2. Go to this other  census chart  and create two more graphs (repeat the procedure in #2) for the ranking of percent of elementary and high school enrollments and percent bachelors degrees. 
3. What did you discover?  What associations did you find? 
4. Use your sociological imagination - Why did this happen? 
5. What other variables might influence the outcomes? 

While urbanization and its impact are important, we may neglect issue that face rural and agriculturally oriented communities.  Take some time to investigate some of these issues in the U.S. and globally. 

Agricultural interests are often intertwined with rural interests.  In our first step, investigate these interests.

1. Who runs this site?   Why do you think this group maintains it? 
2. Browse through the site. 
3. Click on “emerging issues.”   Now, categorize the types of issues that you find here. 
4. For this one point in time, what seem to be the issues of importance? 
5. Click on some links that are most interesting to you?  What are they?  Why are they interesting? 
6. How can sociology be used to understand these issues? 

Have you been hungry today?   Food production is a good example of the interaction between human social systems and the environment.   Let’s look at attempts to monitor this interaction globally. 

This site  attempts to provide an early warning system on global food shortages.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through the site. 
3. Review the Food Outlook for the most recent report.  Click on “Highlights.” 
4. What is the status of food availability? 
5. Use your sociological imagination: In this interaction between human societies and environment, what social forces and natural forces influence the availability of food? 

Human societies interact with the environment in countless ways.  What are some of the outcomes of this interaction?  Let’s look at a list of possibilities. 

Check out the best environmental directories.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through the list of issues and ideas on this site. 
3. Select 2-3 of interest to you. 
4. Now, for each item that you have selected consider the nature of the interaction of humans and the environment. 
5. Take a systems (functionalist or ecological) point of view.  Interpret your findings above. Now take a conflict view. How would you interpret these differently? 

What action is taking place to deal with society’s impact on environment?   Let’s take a “walk around” our environment and find out! 

Take that walk! 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Now take a “check around” by clicking on water, air and the other icons presented. 
3. Using your sociological perspective, how would you characterize the kinds of action listed here? 
4. What forces in society are working for and against these activities? 

What is “technology?”  This term is often used.  How does it relate to social change and changing human life?  Let’s investigate. 

First define technology. 

1. Either look for the term in a sociology textbook or 
2. Go here.
3. Now,explore CTHEORY.
4. What is presented on this site? 
5. Browse through the site and choose 2-3 articles that might interest you. 
6. In each article identify the technological factor (s) that is operating and, then describe that factor’s impact on society as portrayed in the article. 

The diffusion of new technology is often uneven.  That is, it doesn’t get to everybody at the same time.  Some groups get it faster than others do.  There are many factors that influence this diffusion. Let’s look at an attempt to address these factors. 

Check out Street Level Youth Media.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Click on “general information.”  What is this site intended to do? 

Public opinion is of concern to sociologists in general and those who study collective behavior specifically.  An understanding of the collective perspective of a public can be a powerful tool. 

Many organizations are involved locally, nationally and internationally in assessing public opinion. They view opinions at a variety of levels. 

Review public opinion at three different levels of social organization by going to these sites:

• U.S. and International:   The Gallup Organization 
• Primarily U.S.:   Institute for Social Research   (Click on some of the SRC projects of interest to you) 
• General Social Survey   (Click on Trends in GSS Variables and the GSS Search Engine) 

Local Research Examples:

• Florida Parishes Social Science Research Center 
• FAILED TO CONNECT ON 10/15   (Click on “Surveys of…)

1. Who runs these sites? 
2. Review sample research (if available) on each site. 
3. How can these data be used? 
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of collecting and using public opinion data? 

What are social movements?  We hear about them often. Let’s take a look. 

Check out this Section on Social Movements  of the American Sociological Association.

1. Under the “Welcome…” you’ll find a description of just what is studied by persons who research social movements. 
2. Given the information in #1, how would you define a social movement? 
3. Now, scroll down and click on Activism on the Web.
4. While this is a partial list, browse some of the links. 
5. What are the similarities and differences among these groups? 

People often organize and change the course of an ongoing social system.  When this happens we witness the emergence of a social movement.   Do you see such movements around you in our society?  What types of movements are emerging? Are they occurring globally?  Let’s look. 

First, go to this  site on social movements.

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through the list of categories of social movements. 
3. Select 2-3 of these category areas that are of interest to you. 
4. What are some of the movements emerging in each category? 

Now, go to:   http://www.stile.lut.ac.uk/~gyobs/GLOBAL/t0000006.html  

1. Browse through the list of areas on this site. 
2. Select 2-3 geographic areas that are of interest to you. 
3. What movements are emerging in these locations? 
4. What impact does the presence of these social movements have on living in this society? 

Social movements may exist at a variety of levels.  Concern for changing some aspect of the social condition may exist next door, in your country or around the world. Let’s work through an example. 

Go to this  World Hunger Directory. 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. Browse through the site.  What problem is investigated here? 

1. What does this group do? 
2. At what levels (globally, nationally locally?) does it operate? 

1. What does this group do? 
2. At what levels (globally, nationally locally?) does it operate? 

Studying social change and its impact on humans and human societies is central to sociology.  Change can come from many directions.  Let's look at a change and speculate as to its likely impact. 

Starting with sheep, then cattle, then…? 
Check out this unique web site about cloning And definately turn on your speakers!

Follow the (herd) arrows through the website. 

1. What is your personal reaction to cloning? 
2. What impact will cloning have on society? 
3. What direct and indirect effects are likely to occur as a result of this scientific breakthrough? 

Social change does not always occur at the macro or societal level.  Many organizations - business, government, health care, education, and religious groups - attempt to anticipate and manage the change process. An applied sociologist engaging in sociological practice must not only learn the concepts and perspectives of sociology, but also those of the clients she may engage.

One of the models for handling change is the Continuous Improvement Model Click and investigate this.

Now, spend some time investigating the various aspects of the continuous improvement process. 

1. How is this process similar to the perspectives and process you have learned while studying sociology? 
2. What concepts in sociology would help you more effectively assist a client in utilizing this process in her organization? 

Increasingly, we have needed to reflect on the direct impact of societies beyond our own.  This globalization of our view has been a source of social change. 

Review this overview of a company's response to globalization. Go to: FILE NOT FOUND ON 10/15. 

1. Review the summary of change and globalization. 
2. What internal changes have been required as a result of recognition of globalization? 
3. At what levels within the company have these changes occurred? 

Analyzing trends, patterned and emerging changes, in society may give us some clues as to the society in which we are likely to find ourselves in the future.  How could something that is likely to be happening in the future be realistically used in the present? Let's see. 

Review this company report on the use of trend research to influence company focus.

1. Read the report. 
2. What trends did this company recognize that its leadership believed would have an impact on its product lines? 
3. What was the actual process that the company used to brainstorm these trends and produce outcomes? 
4. What did this company actually change or invent in response to the trends they identified? 

When people look into the near future, what do they see and how accurately do they see it?  Let’s look at one sociologist's attempt to characterize an emerging society. 

Start this exercise by going to this interesting list.

At this site, click on “Bell, D.” 

1. Before you click on this article look at the Daniel Bell citation. When was this book (from which this section was derived) written? 
2. Read the article. 
3. How did Bell characterize the development of human societies over time; that is, what were the different societal types and how did life differ? 
4. Has Bell’s notion of the “post-industrial society” actually happened? Why do you think so? 
5. What do you believe will happen after the post-industrial society? 

Many sociologists and futurists alike point to the “globalization of human action.”  The existence of a global social system is apparent.  How aware are you of daily events around the world?  Let’s take a quick global tour! 

Tour the globe! 

1. Who runs this site? 
2. To make comparison easier, select “Newspaper.” 
3. Now pick one newspaper from each geographic area listed.  For each:
   1. What is the name of the newspaper on this site? 
   2. Browse the site. 
   3. What were the top news stories today? 
4. Now compare and contrast the stories.  What are the similarities and differences across societies in today’s news? 
5. What impact does the ability to collect and compare these news stories have on your view of the world? 
6. Suppose that you plan to travel to this site (in person).  Would this information help you? 

Students graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in sociology may well ask: "What can I do with this degree anyway?"  No doubt, you're asking this question regardless of your major in college.  BA level sociology graduates have a great deal in common with other BA graduates.  In many respects, job seeking and self-presentation skills are essential. 

Sociologist Erving Goffman reminded us that we are constantly "presenting ourselves in everyday life."  When looking for a job, this presentation can be critical. 

Go to  Career City.

1. On this site do the following: 
2. How should someone dress for a job interview? 
3. Construct a resume that integrates your current skills. 
4. Write a short cover letter to your resume. 
5. Review the process for an electronic resume. 
6. What tips are provided for women looking for jobs? 

Use your sociological skills to help you find a job, or at least shed some light on careers of interest to you. Let’s examine some applications of sociological strategies to the job search process, and then some jobs that might be available. 

1. First check out Catherine Mobley’s A Checklist for Job Hunting and  Launching  a Career in Applied Sociology .
2. Work through some of her suggestions for strategies to get a job. 

Having completed this list, go to:   The National Employment Index.

1. Investigate the jobs in the various categories on this site. 
2. Locate some jobs that might be interesting to you. 
3. How would you apply Mobley’s strategies to finding a job like those that you have found?