Exam 1: The Art and Science of Social Research: An Introduction

Correct Answer:

Verified

(This is an example;students will choose a broad variety of life elements. )My favorite book is Henry David Thoreau's Walden.It is my favorite just because I like it,but when I look at this book with a sociological imagination,I see it in a new light.It is written in English,and is from American history,which is derived from Western history.I am a white person of Scottish and British descent,so this book is from a racial,political,and historical trajectory that I also share.If this book were Confucian or Shoshone,it would be less likely to be my favorite because it would be culturally unfamiliar.Walden is also about nature,and for my generation,environmentalism is an important value and concern.Walden speaks to me personally,but that is partly because it speaks to the social location and social setting where I am.The sociological imagination influences this description because it shows that while we are socialized to see our lives individually,there are social dimensions that deeply influence personal experience.

Correct Answer:

Verified

The three general conditions are social importance,scientific relevance,and feasibility.The question "Why do people choose certain colors of shoelaces?" fails the social importance criteria.In a world with serious social problems,this topic is trivial.The question "How do microfiche machines influence social relations in office workplaces?" is not of scientific relevance.It is outdated,and social scientists need to ask questions that are in step with the concerns of their fellow scientists.The question "How do juvenile detention facilities vary in quality across the fifty states in the United States?" is important and of scientific interest,but unless the researcher has a large funding base,this question will likely fail the feasibility standard.