2.1 Chapter Reading Guide
Elizabeth B. Pearce
In this chapter you will learn more of the specifics of studying families. How do experts learn about families? What methods do they use? And what do you, the learner, need to do in order to learn about the diversity of families in the United States? You will also be exposed to some of the theories that are used in order to better understand family structures, dynamics, and behaviors.
The reading is designed to help you meet the following chapter objectives. You may also want to preview the key terms that follow. These terms will be bolded the first time they appear in the chapter. You can read the definitions here and also in the hyperlinks.
Chapter Learning Objectives
- Describe the value of studying families.
- Describe the main methods of researching families.
- Discuss the ways of thinking and learning that students will use to best learn about the complexity of family life, social structures, and equity in the United States.
- Describe the dimensions of diversity.
- Explain the levels of social stratification and its relationship to equity.
- Recognize seven major theoretical perspectives.
- Define a social problem using an equity perspective.
- Predict how studying families will impact your future.
Key Terms Preview
- Age: the developmental changes and transitions that come with being a child, adolescent, or adult.
- Cultural humility: the focus on staying other-centered in order to learn about and understand the experiences and viewpoints of people with social identities different from your own.
- Culture: the shared meanings and shared experiences passed down over time by individuals in a group.
- Disabilities: the visible or hidden and temporary or permanent conditions that create barriers or challenges in one’s life.
- Experiments: a primary form of research in natural and physical sciences that involves comparing and contrasting at least two different interventions.
- First language: the language learned in early childhood.
- Gender: a socially constructed expression of a person’s sexual identity that influences the status, roles, and norms for their behavior.
- Objectivity: the act of staying free from the influence of personal experiences and opinions.
- Observational studies: a type of field research that includes both participant observation and nonparticipant observation.
- Origin: the geographical location where a person was born and spent (at least) their early years in.
- Qualitative research: the descriptive, in-depth study of a topic.
- Quantitative research: the numbers-based, measurable study of a topic.
- Race: the categorization of humans using observable physical or biological criteria, such as skin color, hair color or texture, facial features, etc.
- Research: a systematic investigation into a particular topic, examining materials, sources, and/or behaviors.
- Scientific process: the process of formulating hypotheses, making observations, gathering and testing data, drawing conclusions, and modifying hypotheses.
- Secondary data analysis: the study of existing research.
- Sex: a biological descriptor involving chromosomes and internal/external reproductive organs.
- Sexual orientation: a person’s emotional, romantic, erotic, and spiritual attractions toward another in relation to their own sex or gender.
- Socioeconomic class: a person’s income or material wealth, educational status, and/or occupational status.
- Social class: similar to socioeconomic status with a closer focus on income and wealth.
- Sociological perspective: viewpoints that emphasize causes, effects, and actions of groups of individuals, including patterns of behaviors.
- Social mobility: an individual’s or family’s movement through the class hierarchy due to changes in income, occupation, or wealth.
- Social model of ability: a view of diagnoses from a social and environmental perspective that considers multiple ecological levels.
- Social problem: a large issue that affects many people, can threaten the health and well-being of society, is recognized as a problem by many, includes multiple causes and effects, and needs a systemic solution.
- Social stratification: society’s layers, made of people, represent the uneven distribution of society’s resources.
- Structural mobility: societal changes enable a whole group of people to move up or down the social class ladder.
- Subjective: influenced by personal experiences and opinions.
- Survey: a method by which sociologists gather their data by asking questions.
- Theory: a structural framework, explanation, or tool that has been tested and evaluated over time.
Licenses and Attributions for Chapter Reading Guide
Open Content, Original
“Chapter Reading Guide” by Elizabeth B. Pearce. License: CC BY 4.0.
ensuring that people have what they need in order to have a healthy, successful life that is equal to others. Different from equality in that some may receive more help than others in order to be at the same level of success.
society's layers, made of people, represent the uneven distribution of society’s resources.
a large issue that affects many people, can threaten the health and well-being of society, is recognized as a problem by many, includes multiple causes and effects, and needs a systemic solution.