SHORT PAPER IV: Stratification

Sociology 1010

Choose ONE of the following two options: Stratification - Option A

If you have experience living in neighborhoods that differ greatly in social class, compare and contrast the two neighborhoods. Describe them physically - the homes, whatever else is in the neighborhood (businesses, parks, churches, etc.), and the upkeep of the neighborhood. What are the people like who live there; what kinds of experiences do they have in their lives? What are their life chances, to use Weber's term, and why? What kinds of relationships do the people in t e neighborhood have? Connect these differences to differences in social class. In other words, examine how social class affects the lives of these people and their community. If you have quite a bit of experience in another country, you may compare a poor community in that country with an economically better off one. Follow the same guidelines that are given above. If you have had much experience in a poor country, you may compare a neighborhood there with an economically better off one in the United States. Again, follow the guidelines above. In this case, you will need to disentangle differences due to culture and those due to social class This option is designed to have you think about some of the same kinds of things you would in the participant observation experience described in Option B below - except you will be basing your analysis on experiences you have already had, and not just on very limited, but more careful, observation. I'd suggest glancing over the instructions for Option B, especially the last paragraph, if you are choosing to do this option.

Stratification - Option B
If you haven't had this kind of experience and/or you would like to do some actual social research (It's fun!) and gain some extra credit, you may want to choose this option. Note that while 25 points are available for all the other options, you can earn up to 40 points for this option. The purpose of this project is for you to observe and analyze differences related to stratification. You may choose either to (1) observe neighborhoods which differ by social class or (2) focus on particular social settings which cater to different social classes, such as stores, small shopping centers, churches, hospitals, schools, parks, etc. You will be doing exploratory research, which means that you will begin your research without clear hypotheses. It is likely, however, that you have some ideas about what you will find (based on your experience and what you have learned in this course). Check out these ideas. Your data will come from participant observation. This means that you will observe the activity and setting which you are studying. Take notes as you observe, if possible, and go over them as soon as possible after your observations. Your data will probably consist of descriptions of what you observe. Although not necessary, if you wish, you may choose to interview persons in the setting or consult secondary sources for additional information. Be sure to give the source of your data if it does not come from observations.

If you focus on neighborhoods, you should visit two neighborhoods which differ by social class. Observe each neighborhood -- the kinds of housing, the types of businesses (if any), the kind and amount of interaction on the streets, etc. Spend 1 1/2 hours in each neighborhood, preferably walking, although biking or sitting in an alternatively moving and parked car is acceptable. Try to observe during comparable times of the day and week. These essays work better if there is a wide difference in the neighborhoods and if you generalize beyond descriptions of the environment to social interaction and think about why these neighborhoods differ and how their differences affect the people who live in them. If you focus on a social setting, make sure that the two situations are comparable except for class differences. For instance, it would not be appropriate to compare a private to a public school or to compare two different religions, such as Southern Baptist and Lutheran, since the differences you observe might be influenced by variables other than social class. Similarly, if you compare two stores, try to compare stores in the same chain, if possible. Once you have chosen your setting, observe whatever is an appropriate unit: visit the main weekly church service in each church, observe restaurants while eating at the same time of day, or spend 1 112hours studying each of two stores. In your analysis, you will need to compare and contrast what you observed in different social class environments. You will need to describe what you observed and then make generalizations about how and why social class is related to what you observed You are welcome to work together in pairs in order to share transportation and observations and give each other moral support. Final papers should be an individual effort. One or both of you may make notes in the field, but each of you should turn in a copy of your notes. You should turn in your observations in whatever form you make them, with the stipulation that I should be able to figure out most of what you wrote. Consider these to be your raw data and include what and where you observed, the time and date of your observations, and your partner's name as well as your own. Aim for a paper that is 4-6 pages long, and be sure to turn in your observation notes. This project will be worth 40 points; anything above 25 points will be counted as extra credit. Papers will be graded largely on the detail of your observations and your ability to use your sociological imagination. (Detail in your notes helps me to assess how carefully you observe and allows you to leave some of the details out of the paper itself while showing me that you have made careful observations.) If you are struggling with how to analyze your observations, think about the differences and the similarities of the two settings. Then you might want to ask questions similar to the following: Why do I see the differences I observe? How do social class differences affect the quality of the experience for those in the settings I am studying? Do the differences in settings perpetuate social inequality?