use sociological perspectives and ideas this is for sociology class.
1. Locate a family that you know (preferably a non-related family) and interview one adult (age 18 or over) from that family on the topics listed below in the section on Paper Requirements
2. As a sociological interviewer, you are not trying to influence or change a person perceptions; you are trying to gather information about a specific family from the interview perspective.
3. Prior to beginning the interview, create a list of questions you plan to cover during the interview. The interview questions should be designed to allow you to get information related to all of the four topics listed in the Paper Requirements
4. During the interview you may find that you need to be flexible about how you ask questions. You may need to ask additional questions or you may exclude questions for various reasons.
5. Include a list of your original questions as part of your interview paper. You will have a chance to discuss any modifications that you made to the questions in one of the paper sections.
6. Before you begin the actual interview you need to explain the purpose of the interview (for a sociology class project) to the interviewee. Do not ask questions that violate a person privacy. When writing your paper, name of the interviewee may be changed in order for the interviewee to feel comfortable with the interview.
7. Try to find an appropriate setting where you can conduct the interview with a minimum of interruptions. Having others around to hear the responses will probably influence the answers that you get so a private setting is preferred.
8. Read the section on Paper Requirements where you will find the specifics about what needs to be covered in the paper that you write about your interview.
Paper Requirements: (100 points are assigned to this paper. See below. Points will be subtracted for technical and grammar errors and lack of organization.)
1. In writing your paper remember to be analytical rather than judgmental.
2. For your paper write a brief introduction where you explain how you know this family. Then describe the family role or roles of the individual you are interviewing. Explain how you interviewed the individual (by phone, by internet, in-person). In-person interviews are preferred when possible. Discuss the setting, the length of time, the degree of privacy and if this interview was at multiple times. (5 points)
3. For each topic listed below do both of the following in your paper:
a. Describe what you learned from the interviewee about the topic. Your description needs to be a summary, but you may want to use some quotes from the person you interviewed. Try to convey the specific ideas and the tone of the answers.
b. Do a sociological analysis of each topic. Discuss how ideas learned from the course relate to what the individual said about the topic. For example, in describing a family history or family situation analyze the individual use of myths and ideals in describing her or his family. Refer to specific course materials (research and concepts) from your textbook.
Topic One: Family History and family definition – how the family came to be where it is today and how this individual defines her or his family. Include information about family history stories which will help you understand how this person perceives his or her family. Does this person see his or her family as those who reside in a household only or are in included? How are non-household kin perceived in terms of family history and current family interactions? (Total of 20 points 10 points for 3a and 10 points for 3b)
Topic Two: The micro patterns of this family this includes marriage/partnering arrangements (if applicable) and the roles that various individuals play within the family. Ask about variables such as gender, race/ethnicity, cultural heritage and age of family members in relationship to the day-to-day dynamics of this family. Include a discussion about the division of labor regarding household tasks.
(Total of 20 points 10 points for 3a and 10 points for 3b)
Topic Three: The macro influences on the family – the institutional effects that the society has on the family. Ask about the impact on the family of such macro structures as the economy, specific occupational institutions, the government and government policies (such as FMLA) and other social institutions such as religious institutions, the media, the entertainment industry etc. Remember that you are trying to Gage the person perspective on the impact of these macro structures – – – not whether or not they really have an effect.
(Total of 20 points 10 points for 3a and 10 points for 3b)
Topic Four: A topic of your choice – select and specify a topic of interest to you that is relevant to the family you are interviewing. Some examples are family coping strategies, dating practices and mate selection, parenting practices, family conflict and its impact on the family or another topic of your choosing.
(Total of 20 points 10 points for 3a and 10 points for 3b)
4. List your initial interview questions and discuss any modifications that were made during the interview process. Discuss the interview itself and be critical of what you think you learned and what you think might have been missing from the interview. Explain how your interview technique affected your results. (15 points)
