Picture yourself walking down the street. Looking around, you notice several homeless people. What are your initial thoughts upon seeing this? How do you explain what you are observing?
In attempting to understand social behavior, sociologists rely on a particular type of critical thinking. C. Wright Mills (1959) described such thinking as the sociological imagination. The sociological imagination is an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society. As Mills saw it, society and social structures and institutions within society play a key role in homelessness and other social problems. The sociological imagination is essentially seeing how the individual and society intersect and exploring how personal problems may also be considered public issues. This perspective enables us to understand how people are affected by the broad features of the society in which they liveto go beyond personal experiences and observations to understand broader public issues.
In the example above, we may assume that someone is homeless due to some personal failing. By applying a sociological perspective, however, we consider the complexity of factors, such as the lack of affordable housing relative to other economic, social, and personal issues, that create homelessness. For this first assessment, you will apply the sociological imagination and other sociological concepts or theories to observe a public setting in your community.
Note: The course assessments build upon one another and must be completed in sequence.
Reference
Mills, C. W. (1959). The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press.
There are many interesting studies that demonstrate how to conduct field research. Review one or more of these examples in this reading list to see the different sociological approaches to field research:
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Read the following on the sociological concepts, theories, and research methods you have learned about so far in this course:
- Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2026). Sociology: The essentials (11th ed.). Cengage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link. Watch this video for further information.
- Chapter 1, “The Sociological Perspective.”
- Chapter 3, “Doing Sociological Research.”
- Pay special attention to the section titled “Participant Observation.”
Download the and save it to your computer in a place for easy access. If you have questions on how to get started, please view the media and the “How do I get started on my assignment?” information.
Start your field research by completing one observation, following these guidelines for your observation:
- Choose a public setting where you have open access (such as a public park, a library, a grocery store, an airport or a bus station, a restaurant, or a shopping mall). The goal is to observe the setting with fresh eyes. To limit bias, avoid observing a place you are very familiar with or personally connected to (such as your workplace, family home, or your childs school).
- Spend at least 30 minutes observing in your chosen setting.
- Use a sociological perspective to observe people’s behavior in the setting you have chosen. Below are some questions you can use to guide your observations and note-taking:
- What are people doing in the setting?
- What behaviors stand out? This could include verbal and nonverbal communication and peoples use of space.
- What norms (rules for social behavior) are apparent in the behaviors and interactions you are observing? Also consider how the setting itself affects how people behave.
- What social categories (such as gender, age, race or ethnicity, and social class) are relevant for understanding the interactions or behaviors you’re observing?
- Do you notice any cultural differences or expressions of culture (music, dress, the use of symbols, et cetera)?
- As you observe, take notes (called field notes) in a notebook, phone, laptop, or tablet. These notes can include your observations as well as your thoughts about how those observations illustrate certain concepts or theories covered in this course.
Follow the directions in the worksheet to complete each section, typing directly on the worksheet. Include answers to each question, and do not delete any instructions or questions.
- Describe the setting that was observed.
- Explain why this setting was chosen.
- Explain how an observation illustrates a sociological concept or theory.
- Explain how the sociological imagination can be used to understand a behavior or interaction.
- Write field notes that describe the setting, people, behaviors, and interactions observed.
Requirements: read carefully
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