One of the key aspects of social structure is society’s core institutions, those networks or frameworks that a society creates and organizes to fulfill certain goals or needs. Among the social institutions that affect your life in many ways are the economy, political system (government), education, and healthcare. Examining these institutions from a sociological perspective reveals how they operate and function in the United States and globally, as well as how they reflect and respond to broader social and economic changes. Sociologists also study the role that power and inequality play in the structure of these institutions and their impact on people’s lives. You will explore these themes in this assessment as you continue your field observations, where you will reflect on the way that social institutions, social change, and broader social structures influence people’s behavior.
Note: The course assessments build upon one another and must be completed in sequence.
Review the sociological concepts and theories you have learned about in this course and focus on the following:
- Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2026). Sociology: The essentials (11th ed.). Cengage.
- Pay particular attention to the definition and functions of social institutions in Chapter 5.
- Skim Part Four for examples of how social institutions shape people’s lives.
Also review one or more of the examples in this reading list to see the different sociological approaches to field research:
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Start your field research by completing one observation, following these guidelines for your third observation:
- Focus on the impact of social structure on people’s behaviors and interactions. For this observation, you can return to the setting you chose for a previous observation or choose a different setting. Examples include a public setting (park, grocery store, library, festival, et cetera), a social event (such as a birthday party, family dinner, or book club meeting), or a place where you work or volunteer. Try to be as objective as possible as you observe, but be aware of how your own biases or experiences might shape your conclusions.
- 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 patterns do you observe in people’s behaviors? Are these similar to or different from your previous observations?
- Do you notice any role or status differences affecting how people behave or interact?
- What norms (rules for social behavior) are apparent in the interactions you are observing?
- What social institutions are influencing the situation (such as the family, education system, economic system, government, religion, et cetera)?
- What social categories (such as gender, age, race or ethnicity, and social class) are relevant for understanding the interactions you’re observing?
- What broader social patterns or issues are relevant to your observation?
- 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 weve covered in this course.
Follow the directions in the 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.
- Describe how a social institution influences people’s behaviors.
- Explain how your observation connects to broader social patterns or issues.
- Analyze observations to determine patterns or common themes evident in human behavior.
- Reflect on the influence of social change on human behavior.
- Write field notes that describe the setting, people, behaviors, and interactions observed.
Requirements: read carefully
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