SYO 3100 - Chapter 2 Notes

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Florida Atlantic University *

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3100

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Sociology

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Feb 20, 2024

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SYO 3100 Family & Society 1/18 Family Life Now: Chapter 2 “Understanding Families Through Research and Theory” “Science is humankind’s exploration of how the world works. Religion, philosophy, art, mythology, and literature have also historically attempted to quench the insatiable thirst of human inquiry, but science is distinguished from these other modes of exploration and explanation by the methods used to discover and to know. The exploration to discover and understand often begins with a simple inquiry. When examining social and individual processes by engaging in and using methods beyond logic, common sense, intuition, or reason alone, we engage in scientific inquiry-in the practice of social science research” UNDERSTANDING FAMILIES THROUGH RESEARCH Social Science Research  Research is important because it enables social scientists, family practitioners, psychologists, and sociologists to develop family theories and family education programs, create family policies that strengthen and serve today’s families, and better understand societal trends.  Social Science Research  Research: to study thoroughly using the process of scholarly or scientific inquiry  Social science research: the scholarly discipline used to examine human society and relationships  When conducting research in the social sciences, researchers examine behaviors, emotions, and relationships.  Relying on logic or common sense frequently “limits us to the familiar." Furthermore, everyone sees things differently based on different value systems, political beliefs, religious beliefs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Question 1** ______ means to study thoroughly using the process of scholarly or scientific inquiry. A. Research B. Question C. Statistics D. Ethics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Research Method: Start to Finish  From Start to Finish  Scientific method: a process by which social science researchers formulate questions concerning social and individual phenomena and seek out answers  Quantitative research: uses statistical methods to count and measure outcomes from a study; a systematic attempt to define, measure, and report on the relationships between elements that are being studied  Qualitative research: involves detailed verbal or written descriptions of characteristics under investigation; typically involves observation and interviews to collect data  Step 1: Choosing the Research Topic  Investigators choose to examine topics for a variety of reasons: a concern with a social issue or problem; a great interest in a particular area of behavior; desire to examine the validity of a certain theory; financial or professional incentives.  Once a research topic is chosen, the investigator needs to determine which variables to study.  Variable: a characteristic that is measured in a study  Step 2: Choosing the Question  Research question: the research hypothesis  Before researchers pose a research question or hypothesis, they must first have a clear understanding of the problem and a clear vision of their objective.  Literature review: an exhaustive search of the existing research studies related to a topic of inquiry  This process allows researchers to get a better grasp on the scope of the problem and all aspects related to the research topic.  Hypothesis: a speculative statement about a variable or the relationship between variables in a study  Step 3: Conceptualizing the Research

 Conceptualization: the process by which the researcher specifically denotes or indicates all of the concepts—or constructs—under investigation  Construct: refers to intangibles  Step 4: Using Operational/Empirical Definitions  Because constructs are mental creations and words may have different connotations, it is important that researchers come to a workable definition for the constructs under investigation.  At the research's outset, researchers create operational definitions that describe or characterize the constructs (concepts) being studied.  Step 5: Choosing the Research Method  Surveys  Observational research  Case study  Experimental design  Step 6: Selecting a Population and Sampling  Population: the entire group of people who shared an experience  Probability (random) sample: each person has the same likelihood (probability) of being selected for the study  Representativeness: the degree to which the characteristics of the population are represented by the sample  Sample size: affects the degree to which the sample is considered to be representative  Nonprobability samples: not selected randomly but are used when the use of probability samples is impossible  Step 7: collecting, Processing, and Analyzing Data  It is vitally important for novice researchers to understand the relevance and necessity of each step in the design process.  A poor research design almost always produces poor research results.  Step 8: Applying Research Findings  Once a researcher collects, processes, and analyzes the data generated from the research, the study's findings are usually presented in a format for scholars, researchers, policy makers, or other users. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Question 2**

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A social scientist is conducting a study that seeks to understand what color of car most consumers prefer. The researcher sends out a survey to over 1000 households. The percentage of households that respond to the survey is known as ______. A. Conceptualization B. the response rate C. the sample size D. hypothesis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step 5: Choosing the Research Method  Survey  Survey: A Structured questionnaire comprising a list of questions  Sample: A group of people from whom researchers collect survey responses  For a questionnaire or survey to yield valuable information that reflects the characteristics of the population being studied, it must be well constructed and well designed.  Unbiased  Easily understood by study respondents  Carefully worded and nonobjection able  Response Rate  Response rate: the percentage of the study subjects who respond to the survey  Universally, a response rate of 50 percent is adequate for analyzing data; 60 percent is good, and a 70 percent response rate is very good.  Survey Drawbacks  There are some inherent problems with surveys.  Response bias: overreporting or underreporting certain behaviors  Do surveys reliably assess human behavior, attitudes, and experiences?  Validity: speaks to the extent that a researcher is able to provide an empirical definition that reflects the true meaning of what is being studied  The validity of survey research is often criticized because the questions may not really measure what the researchers claim they are measuring.  Observational Research  Observational research method: a systematic process in that (1) the observation is systematically planned, (2) the data are gathered and recorded in a systematic format, and (3) checks and balances assess the reliability and validity of the observations  Field research: more natural setting  Three purposes of using observational research:  Observational research may be performed for purposes of description.  This research method is used when the subject matter does not lend itself to other methods.

 Observational research is appropriate when other research methods are inaccurate.  Case Study  Case study: involves study of either a single person or a small group of people; often used to obtain an in-depth understanding of emotional or behavioral patterns  Aside from the drawback of being time consuming for the researcher, case study methodology findings may be limited in that they are not typically generalizable to the larger population.  Experimental Design  Experimental design: used to determine causal relationships among variables.  An experimental design consists of two groups:  Experimental group: the group that is exposed to the independent variables under question  Control group: treated exactly the same as the experimental group, except they are not exposed to the independent variable  A limitation of experimental research is that the laboratory is an artificial environment to study human response. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Question 3** Dr. Harsin is studying a very rare type of cancer that only affects 1 in every 100 million people. Due to having access to only a hand full of affected people available to her during her study, which type of research methodology should she use? A. experimental research B. literature review C. case study D. ethnography ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BECOMING A CONSUMER OF THE LITERATURE Making Sense of it All: How to Read Social Science Literature  Are the purposes of the research and/or the hypotheses clearly stated?  Be wary of research that does not specifically state the intended purpose of the research or present a clearly stated research hypothesis at the outset.

 Data churning ("fishing"): refers to the practice of devising the purposes of the research or formulating a research hypothesis after the data are gathered and analyzed  What is the method by which the data is collected?  When scrutinizing surveys, look at how demanding the questions are.  1. Content aimed at ascertaining facts  2. Content aimed at ascertaining beliefs about the facts  3. Content aimed at ascertaining feelings  4. Content aimed at discovering standards of action  5. Content aimed at past or present behavior  6. Content designed to discover beliefs, feelings, and behavior  How was the study sample selected? Is the sample representative?  A sample that is not scientifically selected calls even the most well-intended research into question  What is the response rate?  The response rate is an indicator of how representative the survey or questionnaire is; the higher the response rate, the more likely it is that the survey responses reflect the population under investigation.  What is the weight of the evidence for conclusions?  Always be wary of claims that cite “most” or “many” or “several,” if the sample size is not known.  Always know the sample size and response ratebefore trusting percentages  Do confounding (rival) factors exist?  Confounding (or rival) variables: variables that are unrelated, unconnected, or not pertinent to the variables under investigation, which can skew or affect the results of the study -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question 4 Which of the following is one of Kidder’s (1981) three purposes of using observational research? A. Observation research should be performed for purposes of description. B. Observation research should be used when the subject matter can lend itself to other methods.

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C. Observation research is appropriate when other research methods are accurate. D. Observation research is appropriate when time is in short supply. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research Ethics and Integrity  The practice of social science research requires responsible conduct on the part of the researcher, particularly since human subjects are the object of study.  Ethics: refers to the principals or standards of people’s conduct or the principals of right and good  Institutional Review Boards (IRB): research review committees established to ensure the ethical treatment of research subjects  Research integrity: concerned with the relationship between researchers and the truth in reporting their findings  Requires:  A competent research design plan  No manipulation of the data to construe the results one way or another  Sound statistical methods  No falsification of the results  No fabrication of the results  Sharing the results with the academic and/or medical world  Giving credit where credit is due UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH THROUGH THEORY  In order to move beyond these commonly held assumptions and common beliefs about family, family scientists and theorists cannot rely on widely held suppositions about family; rather, they must study the family empirically.  Theory: in the family sciences, a general principle that is used to understand or to explain certain events or family experiences, such as family communication or family crisis  Framework: systematic structure for classifying families, their behaviors, or their experiences

An Introduction to Family Theories  Today's prevailing family theories:  Ecological theory is concerned with the many social and cultural contexts that affect family living.  Family Development theory divides the experiences of family into phases, or stages, of normative changes associated with family growth and development, such as the birth of children and the launching of these children into early adulthood.  Conflict theory maintains that society shapes individual and family behavior.  Family Systems theory concentrates on the interactions between family members, and it views the family as an interconnected group of individual members whose behaviors affect and are affected by other family members’ behaviors.  Symbolic Interaction theory concerns itself with how people form and share meanings in their communication efforts.  Social Exchange theory focuses on the costs and rewards associated with our human behaviors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Question 5** Which theory is concerned with the many social and cultural contexts that affect family living? A. Family Development theory B. Ecological theory C. Conflict theory D. Social Exchange theory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Structural Functionalism  Perhaps the most influential contributor to the study of family and family life is Talcott Parsons (1902–1979), who devised the Structural-Functionalist theory of the family.  Parsons’s functionalist view of the family maintained that gender-based role specialization was necessary to promote family (and, hence, societal) equilibrium.  Instrumental roles: assigned to the husband-father; the task-oriented mate responsible for being the primary breadwinner and protector against imbalance or disequilibrium

 Expressive roles: assigned to the wife- mother; the people-oriented mate responsible for enhancing emotional relationships among the members of the family  Key Concepts of Structural Functionalism  At the heart of Structural Functionalism rests the notion that society is considered to be a whole that is made up of separate, interconnected parts, and that this whole (social system) seeks maintenance and stability in order for it to persist and endure.  Functionalism also holds that each subsystem (or social unit) seeks balance or homeostasis; a change in one unit effects a change in the other units for balance to be maintained.  A subsystem’s function can contribute either in a positive fashion (functional) or a negative fashion (dysfunctional) to society.  Structures: patterns of role arrangement  The function of the nuclear family in this perspective:  The marital couple assumes the responsibility of childrearing, and such specialized roles increase the functionality of the system.  The man and the woman have exclusive economic and sexual rights over one another.  These types of role specialization underscore the system's ability to maintain homeostasis or balance. Structural Functionalism  Structural Functionalism and the Family  Structural Functionalism emphasizes the traditional, heterosexual nuclear family and highlights two primary functions of the family in society: the socialization of children to society’s culture and norms and the stabilization of adult personalities.  The study of lesbian parenting  Studies indicate that children born into and/or reared by lesbian parents show no significant negative or harmful effects in the children’s emotional development, self- concepts, or overall adjustment.

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Conflict Theory ◦ Conflict theory: concentrates primarily on social structures and their interrelationships; supports the notion that society has some bearing on and to some degree shapes individual behavior; basic theme that human beings are prone to conflict ◦ The big question in Conflict theory is "Who benefits at whose expense?" Karl Marx and Class Struggles ◦ Karl Marx (1818–1883) was a German economist who viewed the world through the perspective that every aspect of human life is based on economics and economic relationships. ◦ There appeared to be two fundamental, distinct classes of people. ◦ The owners or ruling class—the capitalists—possessed the land, businesses, and factories. ◦ The working class—the proletariat—was subordinate to the demands of the ruling class. ◦ Marx believed that the ruling class used its economic power to gain more control of the society, such as using police power to protect its property. ◦ Marxian theory supports the notion that the function of every social institution (such as the educational system, religious institutions, and even marriage and the family) is to support the society’s class structure. Conflict Theory and the Family ◦ Conflict theorists view the family as a social institution composed of varying relationships. ◦ These relationships benefit some family members more than others. ◦ According to conflict theorists, the entire reason marriage evolved as a legal contract was to protect the property of men. ◦ In relationships between men and women, one class (men) exploited and oppressed the other class (women) in order to gain resources and power. ◦ The family as a social structure perpetuates or maintains the inequalities and imbalance of power in male-female relationships. Women’s Studies: Feminist Theory ◦ Feminist theory: embraces the conflict approach to understanding and analyzing the roles of marriage and family in perpetuating inequalities in male-female relationships

◦ A theory is deemed Feminist theory if it (1) centers on the experiences specific to women, (2) views experiences from a woman’s vantage point, and (3) advocates on behalf of women. ◦ Types of Feminist theory: ◦ Marxist Feminist theory maintains that the inequality and oppression that women experience is a result of women’s subordinate class position. ◦ Radical Feminist theory states that the universal oppression that women experience is a result of patriarchy. ◦ Liberal Feminist theory views the inequality and oppression of women as a result of sexism— the belief that men are superior and women are inferior. ◦ Lesbian Feminist theory focuses primarily on the predominance of heterosexuality in patriarchal societies. ◦ Women-of-Color Feminist theory, along with sexism and classism, focuses its attention on forms of racism—the belief that women of color are inferior to white men and women. ◦ For Feminist theorists, the aim of family research is to determine why and how gender inequality and power differences develop and are sustained and maintained in family life. Men’s Studies ◦ The primary objective in men’s studies has been to encourage scholarship in an effort to generate theory specific to the study of masculinity, as well as to shun all forms of oppression— sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism. ◦ Men’s studies: investigate the multiple social and cultural forces and issues that affect men; an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning men, such as sex, gender, politics, and sexuality; encompasses a number of issues specific to men’s lives, such as men’s and father’s rights, family violence, sexuality, and war and trauma -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Question 6** A study of labor force participation highlights the wage gap between men and women. The study concludes that women’s subordinate position in the labor market, and consequently class position, is a defining factor in the oppression of women. Which perspective aligns most with this research? A. Radical Feminist theory B. Lesbian Feminist theory C. Marxist Feminist theory

D. Women-of-Color Feminist theory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAMILY INTERACTIONS AND YOU The Human Life Cycle  Developmental tasks: certain biological, physical, cognitive/intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual tasks across the life course  See Figure 2.4  Normative life events: developmental tasks that come at relatively predictable points in our lives and are generally expected  On-time events: another term for normative life events, due to their relative predictability across the lifespan  Off-time events: events that occur at atypical points in the lifespan, such as when a young adolescent gives birth  Non-normative life events: events that we do not anticipate, and that we cannot predict, but that do have an impact on our developmental lifecourse  Psychosocial: social and emotional  Psychosocial development  Infancy (0–2 years)  Early Childhood: The Play Years (2–6 years)  Middle Childhood: The School Years (7–12 years)  Adolescence (13–21 years)  Early Adulthood (22–34 years)  Middle Adulthood (35–60 years)  Late Middle Age (60–74 years)  Late Adulthood (75 and older)

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The Family Life Cycle  Family life cycle: it consists of multiple entrances and exits from the family of origin  See Table 2.1

 Criticisms  It ignores the varying family constellations, such as families of color, gay/lesbian families, or intergenerational/extended families.  It assumes that all families of origin share a common group identity, ignoring the fact that many today have departed from the previously common progression of family life.  It is child-centric—it assumes that all families have children.

SYO 3100 - Chapter 2 Notes

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