Chapter 1

Understanding Social Problems

What is a social problem?
• “any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large
numbers of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or
behavior that needs to be addressed” (2).
How is a social problem constructed?
• Social problems are “constructed”: how people present the case that some
issue is a problem
• The social constructionist view (4)
• Two ways to construct a social problem:
• Objective: using only empirical, verifiable evidence—no judgements
• Subjective: judgemental, assumptions/prejudices, emotional language and tone
• Anti-gay marriage movement:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLDP8tdeqpY

• Analyzing Trump’s claims about immigration use to justify building border

wall:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/11/us/politics/trump-border-crisis-reality.html?
fbclid=IwAR2GzTReGXiaqvsYQQYK7InlRyLO-xG_p7MW46OlF4IoV9CIOqubqzkiR_8
Accessibility of College: Objective or
Subjective?
• “The cost of tuition is rising at a faster rate than family income or student
financial aid. In response to shrinking state budgets and endowments, during the
2009-2010 academic year, the average total fees (tuition, room, board) increased
more than the rate of inflation, particularly at 4-year public universities. At a 4-
year public institution, total fees were $18,548 (6.4% increase from 2008-2009);
at 4-year private institutions, the average cost was $26,273 (a 4.4% increase from
2008-2009; College Board 2009)” (in Leon-Guerrero 2011:7).
 How do social problems develop/evolve? Social
Movements (Spector & Kitsuse 2001)

• In stages
• Stage 1: Emergence and claim making
• Stage 2: Legitimacy
• Stage 3: Renewed Claims Making
• Stage 4: Development of Alternative Strategies
What is theory?
• Theory is an explanation of phenomena/events, developed through
research
• Theory takes the form of a statement to explain how phenomena or
events are related, and has a predictive quality.
• Sociological theory analyzes the social structure to explain social
phenomena/behavior
• Examples: suicide, eating disorders (11), etc.
An Example of Developing a Theory
• A theory of presidential elections to predict the winner of
the next election:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/opinion/2020-
election-prediction-allan-lichtman.html?
fbclid=IwAR3tPUCMnVwUWZS46V-gx-
MvAXpqluc1mAMqHLDG6Jhe6k5bBMdzKLd58tY
Theoretical Approaches/Grand theory
• Each theoretical approach explains how society operates.
What is the functionalist theoretical
framework?
• This analysis of society asks: What purpose/function does a
particular social practice serve in society?
• Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
• Society is a system similar to a human body
• Each institution—an established social practice that meets a
need in society--contributes to social stability
• Social system creates social conformity
What is the conflict theoretical framework?
• This analysis of society asks: how does the social system create and maintain
inequality--an uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, power?
• Conflict a product of inequality
• Focus on systems of inequality: social class, and gender, race, ethnicity, etc., and
structures of power
• Conflict theorists look at how different institutions maintain the privileges of
some and keep others subservient
• Economic structure: capitalism (Karl Marx 1818-1883)
– Images of child labor: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/10/kids-coal-mines-
lewis-hines-photos/
What is the symbolic-interactionist
framework for analyzing society?
• Symbolic-interactionists ask: how human behavior/thought is shaped
by the definitions/labels that society creates and places on groups of
people and situations.
• G.H.Mead (1863-1931)
• Society defines and labels situations and people.
• These definitions and labels are learned in society (socialization).
Using the theoretical approaches to analyze a social
phenomenon: prostitution
• Ted Talk on prostitution
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc-n852sv3E
Sociology as a science: explaining causal
relationships
• Science a systematic process of knowledge production to maximize
objectivity
• Variables: independent variable, dependent variable
• we may identify variables: a dimension along which people, groups, and populations vary (income, gender, religion,
age…)
• Two types of variables to analyze a cause-and-effect relationship: independent variable-->dependent variable
• Independent variable is the cause or predictor variable: child nutrition level
• Dependent variable is the outcome variable: child height
• Child nutrition level--->Child height: child nutrition level predicts height (outcome)

• Correlation
• Hypothesis
Correlation: an analytical tool
• Correlation: helps us identify if there is a relationship between two
variables.
• Direct/positive or indirect/negative correlation
• Once we see there is a relationship we can begin to look for the
cause-and-effect relationship
• Family income and child’s likelihood to attend college:
http://nyti.ms/1FESuyU
What is formulating the hypothesis?
• Hypothesis: a proposed statement (a prediction) about the
relationship between two or more factors or variables that will be
tested in the study
• Can we develop a hypothesis about the relationship between
earnings and education?
• Once the study is completed one will determine if the hypothesis is
supported or not supported.
Can we develop a hypothesis based on the data
below?
• Of every 100,000 people in each of the following ethnic/racial groups below in the U.S., the
following number died by suicide in 2007.
• Highest rates:
• Native American and Alaska Natives — 14.3 per 100,000
• Non-Hispanic Whites — 13.5 per 100,000
• Lowest rates:
• Hispanics — 6.0 per 100,000
• Non-Hispanic Blacks — 5.1 per 100,000
• Asian and Pacific Islanders — 6.2 per 100,000
Analyzing a study
• Looking at the Sherman & Berk (1984) (p. 27 of textbook) field
experiment, that took place in Minneapolis in the early 1980s around
domestic violence, indicate:
• The research objective/question
• Independent variable and dependent variable
• Formulate a hypothesis
• Results
• Results from other studies
What are the various research methods in
sociology?
• Surveys
• Discrimination against older workers: https://www.propublica.org/article/older-workers-
united-states-pushed-out-of-work-forced-retirement?fbclid=IwAR2tZ8UQ8MDbT0n1Hrqh4ye2cqLrj-
JqMciYp2tS1Wj0m-7Ozt_3SsvY4jk
• Interviews
• Experiments
• Field experiments:
• Police action and domestic violence (27)
• Observational studies
• Participant observation/ethnography
• Existing data
• Census