1.5 sociological experiments and science RGA.notebook

1

January 31, 2018

Starter Slide

Classroom Expectations:

Arrive on time

Coat off

Bags off desks

Equipment & Planner on desks

TITLE: DATE: 26/01/18RM ‐ Experimental data & Science

• Empirical data is...• Positivists believe...• Whereas interpretivists believe...• Primary data is...• Secondary data is...• Content analysis involves...

• PET stands for...• Reliability is...• Representativeness is...• Validity is...

LOs

Objective Key WordsKnow

Understand

How will you display SMSC today?Courage ‐ Respect ‐ Friendship ‐ Inspiration ‐ Determination ‐ 

Equality ‐ ExcellenceEmpathy – Courtesy – Resilience  ‐ 

Etiquette

TITLE: DATE:

To give reasons and evidence for your views (ext: to consider alternative opinions and views)

To spot patterns and explain what's happening

Is sociological research worthwhile? Can we find out anything meaningful from it?

The Big Question:

Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3EDUCATION & RM FAMILIES & BELIEFS CRIME

What is the Hawthorne Effect? Hawthorne Effect

To what extent are experiments useful in sociology?

ControlVariablesCausalityEmpiricism

How do sociological and scientific experiments differ?

Field/Laboratory experimentValidityReliabilityRepresentativeness

26/01/18RM ‐ Experimental data & Science

May 4­07:06

Sociology and ScienceWhat's good about science? Try to come up with three pros of science.

On the other hand, can you think of any downsides to science?

So is sociology a science?

Why/why not? What makes something 'science'?

Think ‐ Pair ‐ Share

May 4­07:06

For positivists good sociology is based on empirical evidence and results from good research.

Sociology is considered a science because it's based on logical conclusions drawn from evidence, rather than just 'common sense'

Good science relies on cause and effect. To draw logical conclusions about something we need to be able to infer that one change leads to another; this is how we develop understandings of how things relate.

Does sociology work like this? Why?

May 4­07:06

For example‐ a researcher might find that young people who watch violent films (factor A) are violent towards other young people (factor B)

It could be that...• There is no causal link.• Watching violent films causes violent behaviour.• Violent behaviour causes young people to watch violent films.• A third factor (e.g. violence in the home) causes both the film‐watching and the violent behaviour.

The purpose of an experiment, in any of the sciences, is to determine which of these possibilities is correct.

Think ‐ Pair ‐ Share

May 4­07:06

Key word Definition

Experimental (Laboratory) ResearchWhere the researcher wants to test a hypothesis (prediction) in laboratory conditions (where all variables are controlled). By manipulating variables and studying the result, the researcher can see how one factor causes another.

Why are laboratory experiments so useful for natural scientists?

1.5 sociological experiments and science RGA.notebook

2

January 31, 2018

May 3­07:09

Problems of using the experimental method in

sociology

In social science it's difficult to isolate a single cause of a social issue like crime or underachievement (they are the result of a range of causes).

People may object to being experimented on, and if they aren't told the researcher won't have informed consent.

Experiments involve treating one group differently from a similar group, but this poses ethical issues as it may have negative impacts on the experimental group.

Experiments are often only possible in small‐scale settings with limited aims, but sociologists are often interested in wider settings so small‐scale experiments may be unrepresentative.

May 4­07:06

What's happening here? How might it affect the validity of the experiment?

Not observed Observed

May 4­07:06

Key word Definition

The Hawthorne EffectWhen the presence of a researcher, or group's knowledge that they are the focus of attention, changes the behaviour of the group.

Can you think of any real world examples?

This particular problem with experimenting on people is known as...

In 1927, researchers led by Elton Mayo set out to find out how factors in the workplace influenced productivity. Workers were observed, who knew the experiment was taking place. Even when conditions were made worse, productivity went up. The most important variable wasn't heat or light, but the presence of the researchers themselves.

May 4­07:17

Field Experiments as an alternative...While laboratory experiments are almost never appropriate in sociology, field experiments can be used instead:

Key word Definition

Field ExperimentThose experiments conducted in the real world under normal social conditions, but following similar procedures to a laboratory experiment (varying a variable and measuring change)

Field experiments suffer from similar limitations to laboratory experiments. The researcher may mislead or trick their participants, or participants may change their behaviour through the Hawthorne effect. Research can also still have negative consequences for participants.

To what extent are field experiments still better than lab experiments?

May 4­07:42

Rosenthal and Jacobson, Pygmalion in the Classroom (1968)Testing the hypothesis that teachers' expectations have effects in the classroom. The researchers told teachers that a random 20% of students had 'high intelligence' and were expected to make rapid progress. Within a year, these students did; teacher expectations led to a self‐fulfilling prophecy.

What ethical limitations might this field experiment have had?

Plenary

PPQ practice

PLENARY

Objective Key Words

Know

Understand

TITLE: DATE:

1)

2)

Outline two problems of using experiments in sociological research (4 marks)

Outline two differences between Lab and Field experiments (4 marks)

/02/2017RM ‐ Experimental data & Science

To give reasons and evidence for your views (ext: to consider alternative opinions and views)

To spot patterns and explain what's happening

What is the Hawthorne Effect? Hawthorne Effect

To what extent are experiments useful in sociology?

ControlVariablesCausalityEmpiricism

How do sociological and scientific experiments differ?

Field/Laboratory experimentValidityReliabilityRepresentativeness

1.5 sociological experiments and science RGA.notebook

3

January 31, 2018

Apr 27­17:44

EXTENSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bmZ8cVB4o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnHvK6lJOO8

Stanford Prison Experiment

What ethical issues might have been involved in the above research?

Jan 25­17:08

HOMEWORKFrom the student work book on SMHW complete pages 13‐18 ON EXPERIMENTS in your books. Label it clearly as HW. Use the scanned textbook chapter to complete this task.Due in one week.

KEY

HOTS extension tasksTASK:

KEY TERMKey word Definition DATA/EVIDENCE

Things everyone does to help us learn.

Things to make us think hard and learn more (A/A*)

Words we need to know and be able to use. Record in your glossary. If you don't have one make one.

Data/facts/stats that you'll need to learn.

SOCIOLOGISTS

Sociologists you'll need to be familiar with

KEY FOR NEW LESSON STRUCTURE

KEY

Think ‐ Pair ‐ Share

Listening carefully

Silence

Instruction

Write this down!

Think Pair Share

Brainstorm

20s Timer

Key word Definition

Feb 20­06:47

Y12 Mock Initial Feedback

Study Support review next week (less than a C) Thursday 2nd

Review of the paper and detailed feedback on Monday 27th

Immediate feedback:• Read the questions carefully and focus your answers• Learn sociologists names and what they say for each perspective• Use PERC (or PEEL)

MOCK EXAMS AND ANY OTHER ESSAYS ‐ INTO YOUR ASSESSMENT WALLETS