The Sociological Perspective: A Case Study

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Why is the sociological perspective useful? Address each of the following. (a) Describe the sociological perspective and (b) Explain in what ways it is of value.
Provide at least two concrete examples (in your own words) and explain why they are good examples.
The sociological perspective examines why people do what they do. It examines the social contexts in which people live and how it influences their lives (Henslin, 2014). It is not to compare people from different stations in life but to compare those that are in the same culture and how they are influenced by that culture. It is important because it allows you to put into perspective why change or influence occurs or doesn’t occur and why
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Through observation, “the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening in that setting” (Henslin, 2014). In case studies, “the researcher focuses on a single event, situation or individual” (Henslin, 2014). With secondary analysis, “researchers analyze data that others have collected” (Henslin, 2014). An analysis of documents means that researches examine “books, newspapers, diaries, bank records, police reports immigration files, and records kept by organizations” (Henslin, 2014). Experiments are “the use of control and experimental groups and dependent and independent variables to test causation” (Henslin, 2014). Unobtrusive measures entail observing “people who are not aware that they are being studied” (Henslin, 2014). In my own words, surveys are questionnaires that provide you with different options to select as an answer to the question but your answer may not be included in the answer options provided. Observation means that you are on site watching the individual in their environment dealing with the situation they are faced with. Case studies are when you perform isolated research – possibly on one individual or one event. Secondary analysis means you are taking data collected from others and making your own conclusions from it. Analyzing documents is when you read articles, books, and public records surrounding a subject. Experiments occur when you conduct research under different conditions (experimenting). Unobtrusive measures mean that are analyzing a situation without those that you are studying even being aware (you are the inside informant so to