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 Society and Culture – NotesMicro, Macro and MesoMicroYour immediate surroundings and things affect an individual directly.e.g. family, friends, peers, individuals and the community. Are small, local community groups, social units in which everyone in that group knows everyone else.For example: your family, Ryde Lions Club or the Rotary Club, RGHS soccer team, String Band at RGHS, A family reunionMesoThe interactions between the micro and macro world e.g. community, village, schools, workplace, organisation and the state. Are social units of intermediate size and usually large enough that many members may not have heard of the name of many others or have little access to leaders. But the group is not so large that they seem distant or the leader is unapproachable. E.g. Sydney Buses, Ryde Council, NSW DET, Sydney Swans, McDonalds MacroThe “bigger world” consisting of society. The include laws, governments, media, Education systems, Health Systems, religious systems etc. Large social unit that are usually bureaucratic, which operate at a national or a global level. Most members are unlikely to know the leaders personally and the businesses of these groups are of international importance. E.g. World Court, The UN, India, NATIO, World Bank, USA, Google Inc., Al Qaeda, Roman Catholic Church etc. Public Knowledge and Personal ExperiencePublic KnowledgeRefers to the information that is not necessarily experiences and people of different kinds can be aware of. It is knowledge that the public has access to. Personal ExperienceRefers to the things and individual experiences in their own small world. This includes their family, culture, own perceptions, and thing they have been exposed to individually. It also refers to our own interactions with the micro, meso and macro worlds. Key ConceptsPersonsEvery person is a unique individual who develops in social and environmental settings which he or she is influences by as it impacts their interaction with other people and group. Identity of a person is achieved through the interactions made at a micro, meso and macro level. SocietySociety is made up of people, groups, networks, institution, organisations and systems. They are the aggregate of people living together more or less in an ordered community.Culture Refers to the shared knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours that give each society its coherence, identity and distinctive way of life. Is demonstrated by the beliefs, customs, values, norms, rules, laws, governances etc. that people generate and use as they interpret meaning from their world. Culture is dynamic.EnvironmentEvery society is location in a particular physical setting and interacts with its environment. The attitudes and values people have in regard to their environment greatly affected their interactions.Unique culture is generated from the interactions in the immediate environment. Different location and their environments – including rural, urban, remote, coastal, inland, and isolated – present society’s with their opportunities and constraintsTimeEvery person, society, culture and environment is location in a period of time and is changing with time. Time can be examined as past, present of future and our perceptions of time are drawn from past events and these influence our ideas about the present. The concept of time is best studied in context – last century, in this century etc. Time is studied in relation to continuity and change. Additional ConceptsPowerPower is the ability or capacity to influence or persuade others to a point of view. Is important when initiating and preventing changeAuthorityRight to make decision and to determine, adjudicate, or settle issues and disputes in society. The use of power. Time is important in the process of decision making, change and maintaining continuity. GenderSocially constructed differences between females and males. E.g. family life, roles, work, stereotypes around masculinity and femineity, as well as sexual division.TechnologiesTools and interactive devices used to assist interaction in society. They are constantly changing and are found everywhere.IdentitySense of self that can be viewed from personal, social and cultural levels. Identity has many dimensions and some contributing factors include: gender, sexuality, family, class, ethnicity, beliefs, social status, group membership and national prideGlobalisationThe process of integration and sharing of goods, capital, labour, services, knowledge, sport, ideas and cultures between countries. Is assisted by technology and media integration. It’s the growth of industries and economies. Social LiteracySocial and Cultural literacy refers to the idea that people posses a body of knowledge, understanding and skill that allows them to share, communicate effectively and respect themselves and their other.The process of social and cultural literacy requires a person to synthesise personal experience and public knowledge at the micro, meso and macro levels of society. Someone who is socially and culturally literate has the following characteristicsThey have a sense of personal, cultural, and social identity and understands that culture underpins one’s behaviours, values and beliefsIs interested in the various levels of society: micro, meso and macroEmpathises and appreciates the diverse society’s and culturesResearches ethically and effectually showering critical discernment towards media and the information presented to themCommunicates effectively and is aware of the issues of discrimination and prejudiceAvoids making judgements of another cultures practises using the values of his of her own cultureIs aware and sensitive to major national issues such as poverty, disease, conflict and moreConsiders the impact of globalisation and understands the impact technology has on continuity and change. Process of ResearchThe process of research is important to the core ad depth studies and includes the following steps:Decide on the topic to be researched: May require some preliminary reading on the part of the researcher to gather ideas. Curiosity or personal interest may inspire the topic choice.Develop a focus question or hypothesis: The researcher may break this focus question or hypothesis into sub-questions and list them in logical order, so that the research process can develop in a coherent wayGather background information from all appropriate sources.Design the research: Choose research methods that best support finding answers to the research question or sub-questions. One sub-question may require a different method from another. Develop the research methods to be used: The researcher needs to be aware of any biases that might exist and take care to be as detached as possible ie. Interview, content analysis Apply the research methods pile and organise the information into manageable amounts: so that the researcher can make sense of the findings.Analyse, Synthesis and Interpret these findings: Effective analysis of information (data) gathered through the research methods used is a critical step in any research process. Conclusions need to be drawn and any suggestions, new theories, recommendations or implications arising from the conclusions need to be established.Write up conclusion in an appropriate format, considering the audience for the final product: Consistent with ethical research practices, the researcher must acknowledge all sources of information gathered during the research process. Check the final product for editing or typing mistakes and ensure that all bibliographical information is included and correct: Careful editing of language and construction is important so that the researcher’s conclusions are made clearEthical ResearchEthical Research means that:Any research participants must be fully informed about the procedures and the possible risks involved in the research making sure they have given consentParticipants may not be put into awkward situations or asked to talk about sensitive topics that may make them feel uncomfortableThe ethical researcher is open and honest about the topic and scope or project as well as what is expectedThe protection of the participants rights and confidentiality is ensuredThe research anticipates any negative effects on the research participations such as personal danger, police intervention, social embarrassments or harassment and the research must prevent theseThe researcher is mindful of the special needs of vulnerable groups such as childrenThere is nothing covert about the researchHas to be aware of assumptionsMust be applied to both primary and secondary researchEnsure no breach of copyright lawDo not plagiarise Use credible informationCross Cultural Study examine topic from perspective other than ownremove own cultural biases (ethnocentricity), avoid value judgements (better/worse similar/different)basis: time, gender, different relevant experiences (personal vs. theorists’ views)Research Methodologies Primary Gain first-hand informationCollected directly by researcher (may still require interpretation)Most methodologies may be usedSecondary Researcher works from previously established researchOthers’ work requires interpretationMethodologies: case studies, application of social theoriesQuantitative removed from original datahighly specific, numerical results: statistics graphs, tableseasy to comparelarge populationsQualitativeclose to original datadetailed, descriptive results: prose, quotes, summariesdifficult to comparesmall populations – long timeSurveyFeaturesCombines observation, interview and/or a written list of questionsUses representative samples of specific populationsCan be done in large numbers Is verbal – you ask a person for questions AdvantagesDisadvantagesLarge sample=less biasEasy to calculateAble to ensure anonymity = more honest answersQuick to answerProvide lots of informationNo assurance of honestyNo way if knowing the questions were understoodStandardised form may restrict peopleStatistical AnalysisFeaturesExamines the data generated from questionnaires or secondary researchEnables you to make generalisations and describe trendsMay involve graphs and chartsAdvantagesDisadvantagesComplements qualitative researchMay be beneficialThe strength of the analysis is linked to the quality of the questionnaireCollating information could be difficultContent AnalysisFeaturesSystematic process for examining the subject matter of a source of information to obtain justifiable and reliable informationMethod of summarising any form of content by counting various aspects of the contentInterprets hidden meanings and trends in common media typesSources of info include textbooks, novels, TV, internet sites etcAdvantagesDisadvantagesProvides quantitative date to supplement researchCan be used on a wide range of mediaDifficult to design Focus GroupsFeaturesInvolves bringing a group of 3-8 people together to discuss an issuePlanning and implementation similar to an in-depth interviewAdvantagesDisadvantagesComplements quantitative results of a questionnaireHelps measure people’s thoughts etc on an issueCan be taped and used for reportsMay provide a broad range of opinionsMay be difficult to manageMust have a definite framework to stay on taskWill produce findings which can’t be measured so best to use with quantitative resultsQuestionnaireFeaturesA collection of questions related to a specific topic that you distribute to a sample of respondentsCan include open and closed questionsMake sure you relate questions to hypothesis, do not use unclear questions, avoid emotion in questions & ensures confidentialityWRITTEN AdvantagesDisadvantagesInvestigates a wide variety of areasCan assess values, beliefs, opinions and attitudesMinimal costCan be answered quicklyAllows for variety of answersQuick analysisPeople may not answer open ended questionsLittle flexibilityMay lead to misinterpretations of questionsPeople may not return questionnaireInterviewFeaturesSpeaking to another person to find out infoIt requires prior knowledge to the topicA list of questions you know you’ll askYour technique in gaining info is importantIt requires a tape recorderAdvantagesDisadvantagesGood as a supplement to questionnairesAdditional info is easily asked forMisunderstandings can be checkedThe pressure is on the interviewerPeople talk more than they writeCan be taped and used for reportsAllows the interview to press for more detailsLack of anonymityWill not give a broad range of opinionsDifficult to re-administerCannot be quantified or easily collatedOnly as good as the subject chosenPersonal ReflectionFeaturesDependent of your experiences, memories and valuesRequires you to respect the people and issues you are going to be reflecting onAdvantagesDisadvantagesAs it is about you it requires you to be honest and open about your life and feelings about a specific thingIt is often used by the person researching and writing to explain how they have felt during the process and their reaction to the topicShould be used in conjunction with othersImpossible to quantifySome topics could cause friction within the familyParticipant and Non participant observationFeaturesInvolves watching and recording in a clearly defined area of human behaviourNon participant/direct observation does not involve the researcher joining inParticipant observation involves the researcher joining inAdvantagesDisadvantagesIdentity of the persona and social situation is knownThe researcher reflects on the situationEasily gather information about a large number of people fairly easilyA good source of primary infoFamiliarityCan be carried out without interrupting othersAllow you to study how people really behave rather than how they say they behaveOf carried out secretly, will not alter the subject’s behaviourDanger of believing we’re better than we really areEyes and ears aren’t reliableYou must be on the spot when the behaviour is taking placePeople’s own prejudices may influenceDoes not allow you to find out reasons for behaviourPeople may object to being observedIf they know they’re being observed, they may be self conscious Secondary Research FeaturesWork undertaken in their area of interest Websites, documentaries, and feature films or;newpaper, magazine, and journal articles. Needs to be identified, sourced, and discussedAdvantagesDisadvantagesResearch already doneCan enrich background knowledgeCan be used in the early research processCan be passed of as plagiarismHard to findTime consumingHard to find relevant infoCan be unreliableCase Study Featuresa process or record of research into the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.collection of info related to individual/small group (eg. Britney Spears - changing representation of women in music)uses observation, interviews, documentary evidence similar to ethnographic study AdvantagesDisadvantagesGives you a close study of groupPracticalImmerse yourselfCan be biasTime consumingCan be dangerous ................
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