SOCIOLOGY ON THE WEB

1. Using a search engine, enter a sociological theorist's name and see what types of web pages can be accessed. For example, entering Durkheim results in a link to the "Durkheim Pages"--a web site that contains information on Durkheim's life and scholarly work. By entering Marx, you may find a link to the "Marx/Engels Internet Archive". If you enter Max Weber, you may find a link to the Max Weber Page or you may find a link to the American Sociological Association's Max Weber prize for a paper on, organizations, occupations and work. Finally, by entering Georg Simmel, you might find a link to Simmel's article entitled "How Society is Possible"
   
   
2. What type of information do you find on these theorists? Can you locate research or publications on these theorists or that are based on their work?
   
   
3. Can you locate any on-line access to journals that focus on social theory? Does there seem to be any one theorist that is more widely referenced than others? What do you think this indicates about the influence of specific theorists on social research?
   
   
4. A good source of information on classical sociological theorists is the The Dead Sociologist Index.

1. Go to the American Sociological Association's (ASA) home page. From this web page, locate information on the journals that are sponsored by ASA. What do each of these publications emphasize in terms of theory, method and/or substantive issues? Which journals does your college or university library subscribe to? Look through some of the recent issues of these publications and see what research methodologies and techniques are used in the articles. Do you see any trends? That is, is one method or technique used more often than others? What does this tell you about the methods that sociologists use?
   
   
2. A number of research centers have pages on the web. Using a search engine, locate some of these organizations. For example, some of the best known centers are: the Survey Research Center at Princeton University, the Populations Study Center at the University of Michigan, the Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Public Opinion Laboratory at Indiana University-Purdue University,the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), and the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. What types of data do these organizations have? How many different data sources can you locate that contain information on work, employment and earnings? How many can you find that contain information on social attitudes (eg. on abortion, welfare, politics, etc.). One of the best known and widely used public opinion surveys is the General Social Survey. Try to locate information on this data set and publications that contain analyses of these data.
   
   
3. Researchers in sociology may use a number of different ways to gather data. Search newsgroups and listservers to see if you can find a discussion group that focuses on the use of field research to gather qualitative data (try bit.listserv.qualrs-l). What types of information are discussed in these groups? See if you can find references to published articles or discussions of on-going field research projects. Compare the descriptions of these projects to the steps of the research process described in this chapter. Two good reference sites are the Qual Page and the Qualitative Research Interest Group.

1. One of the best ways of learning about cultures other than your own, is to interact with people from other cultures. Locate discussion groups and other web sites that focus on intercultural exchange. For example, one such site is the Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connection sponsored by St. Olaf College. Students can electronically interact with students from other countries over the web. In your discussions, exchange information about what each of you finds to be the important aspects of your culture. How do your responses differ? How are they similar?
   
   
2. Sub-cultural variation occurs within cultures. Locate newsgroups and listservers that focus on particular group interests (for example, groups based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, regional location, age/birth cohort, etc.). What can you learn about the cultures of particular groups from their discussion groups? Can you identify unique aspects of these cultures? Choose a group that you do not belong to (eg. if you are African- American, look at an Asian-American group). How does the culture of this group differ from your own?
   
   
3. Using a search engine, locate information on journals and research groups that focus on studying culture. For example, two journals that contain research on cultural issues are the Journal of Material Cultureand Cultural Dynamics. What issues are focused on by researchers interested in culture?
   
   
4. A lot of media attention has been focused on "generation gaps", most recently between "Baby Boomers" and "Generation X/Thirteenth Generation". Locate information on, about and for members of these groups. Are these groups culturally different? What indicates this?

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4. Socialization

1. There are a number of agents of socialization, although parents and the family are one of the primary socializing agents. Locate information on parenting and children's education (eg. Kidsource On-line, the Children's Television Workshop, the Family Development Page, the Ms. Foundation Homepage). What trends/themes can you identify in the information you retrieve? How are children being socialized in the 1990's? For example, what does the information you find say about disciplining children, entertaining children and teaching particular skills to children (eg. reading, math, etc.). Do you think that what is considered to be important in terms of parenting and childrearing has changed from when you were a child? Why or why not? What impact do you think early socialization has upon children as they become adults?
   
   
2. A great deal of attention has been given to violence and the media. As an agent of socialization, some argue that the violence contained in the media will have a detrimental effect on those exposed to it. Using a search engine, try to locate information on this issue from a number of different sources (eg. social policy, government, academic research, discussion) and compare the information. What reasons can you find for limiting or not limiting violence on television, in movies, in music and other media? Is the issue of censorship central in any of this information? Why do people feel strongly about their positions? Is this an indicator of the importance of socialization in society? Several useful links are: Natural Born Killers: A Postmodern Analysis of Violence and Television and Violence in America.
   
   

1. How do social psychologists study social networks? What kinds of research and information on networks and network analysis are available on the World Wide Web? Can you locate any on-line journals that are directed toward the study of networks and communication? What issues are discussed in these electronic publications? The journal Current Research in Social Psychology and Psych Web: Links and Resources in Social Psychology and Psychology may be good resources for information.
   
   
2. In what ways do sociologists look at on-line communication and the World Wide Web as social networks? What discussion groups exist that address the influence of computer technology on the way we interact and form social ties? What are considered to be the positive aspects of this technological revolution in communications? What are the negative aspects? Do you think the Internet and the World Wide Web have influenced your ability to communicate and form ties with others? How?
   
   
3. Homelessness is a persistent social problem in modern society. What information about homelessness is available on the World Wide Web? Several informative sites are Covington, Kentucky's Homeless, The Austin Chronicle's Hypermedia Gallery: Homelessness in Austin, TX, and the National Coalition for the Homeless

1. Enter a corporation/company name into a search engine (eg. Kmart, IBM, Microsoft) and locate web sites for these organizations. What can you learn about the structure of the organization from the information provided? That is, is there information about employment opportunities, corporate structure, etc.? What can you determine about the hierarchical structure, division of labor and degree of specialization at each corporation/company? How are organizations similar? How are they different?
   
   
2. Enter the term bureaucracy into a search engine. What variety of links to you obtain? How are people using this term? Is the usage and understanding of bureaucracy and bureaucratization consistent with Weber's definition of these terms? Is bureaucracy viewed mostly in a positive or negative fashion? Do you think this is an indication of the functionality or dysfunctionality of bureaucratization of society?
   
   
3. Locate web sites for a number of Non-Profit Organizations and examine their content. What are the goals of these organizations? Are the motivating factors of these organizations explicit? What are the functions of these organizations?

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7. Deviance and Crime

1. Using a search engine, locate a web site (eg. Statistical Abstracts) that contains information on crime rates in the United States. Obtain selected crime rates (eg. violent crime rates, child abuse) for several states. You might want to choose states from different regions of the country in order to determine if there are higher crime rates by region. What patterns do you see? What theories on deviant behavior help you explain these patterns?

2. Try to locate on-line publications and/or discussion groups that are devoted to discussions of deviant behavior (eg. Gray Areas Magazine.. What issues are being discussed? Try to find opposing view points on these issues. Using the theoretical explanations of deviance presented in the chapter, try to explain why each side takes the stand it does. Can you identify any "new" forms of deviant behavior, or behaviors that are becoming less deviant (eg. new musical forms, smoking, body art, computer hacking, animal experimentation/abuse,etc.)? Who considers these to be deviant and who accepts them as viable behavior? What trends do you see?

3. Using a search engine, locate web sites that discuss gang behavior. What types of information can you retrieve? From these sites, can you determine any similarities among gangs? What types of differences can you identify? What are the motivating factors behind gang formation? What purpose do they serve? Do we consider gangs to be a social problem? What evidence can you find to support your answer? Two useful sites are Teacher Talk, 2(3), Gangs and School Violence and Life in a Vietnamese Gang.

1. Using a search engine, locate a web site that contains census information on income levels in the United States (eg., Statistical Abstracts). How has disposable income in the U.S. changed since 1980? How have individual wages and family income changed during this same period of time? (Look for data that adjusts for inflation by reporting the amounts in "current dollars.") What can you conclude from this information concerning inequality in the United States?
   
   
2. Using the same or a similar web site, locate information on poverty and public assistance by state. What percent of the population of selected states are below the poverty threshold? What percent receive public assistance income (eg. AFDC, SSI, etc.)? Are the proportions consistent among states or are there variations? How might you explain these findings? You might also find useful information on poverty at the Institute for Research on Poverty and Cyber Herald: Weekly News and Views on Poverty
   
   

1. Locate the Statistical Abstracts web site. How have the populations of specific racial/ethnic groups (white, African American/Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian Eskimo Aleut, Hispanic) changed between 1980 and 1990 (census years)? Can you find information on changes since the 1990 census? What implications might population shifts have for greater social equality among racial/ethnic groups?
   
   
2. Peruse several discussion groups that focus on racial/ethnic issues (eg: soc.culture.african.american, soc.culture.asian.american, soc.culture.mexican.american). Can you find evidence of concern about inequality and discrimination among the topics? How can the sociological theories used in the text help explain the acts of individual discrimination described in these discussions?
   
   
3. Locate the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. See if you can use data from this site to update the information on wages, unemployment, and occupational categories of different racial/ethnic groups.
   
   

1. Locate web sites and discussions groups that focus on women's studies and men's studies (eg. University of Maryland at College Park, Women's Studies Information; Men's Issues Page. What types of issues are being discussed and what types of resources are available? Try to locate research projects and/or research organizations that are centered around women's studies or men's studies. What are the goals of this research? Do researchers link their research to practice? That is, how does this research help us understand issues central to our lives as women and men?
   
   
2. Locate the Bureau of Labor web site. The Current Population Survey results contain information on weekly wages for persons in census occupational categories. Obtain the most current yearly information for women and men for a number of occupational categories. Calculate the wage ratio between women's and men's wages by dividing women's wage by men's wage. Which occupational categories have the largest wage gap for women and men? Which categories have the smallest wage gap? How can you explain such discrepancies?
   
   
3. Locate web sites and discussion groups on transexual and trasngendered issues. How can you understand the issues presented in these pages from the perspective of gender inequality. That is, how do transexual and transgendered individuals construct self identity and how do these individuals experience inequality? What types of resources are available for transexuals and transgendered persons on the WWW?
   
   
4. There are a number of web sites that contain information on violence against women (eg. Sexual Assualt Information Page, Domestic Violence Information Center). What type of information do these sites contain? Are these sites addressing personal troubles or public issues? Do you think these sites are useful for women? For men?

1. What information can you find on Alzheimer's Disease? What impact do lifestyle issues (diet, exercise, occupation, hobbies, etc.) have on the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's diseases? What types of research are epidemiologists conducting on Alzheimer's disease? Two good sites for information are the Alzheimer's Association and the University Alzheimer's Center at Case Western Reserve University.
   
   
2. Diasabilities take on many forms. Locate sites that deal with physical disabilities (eg. Disability Solutions Page) and learning disabilities (eg. Learning Disabilities Association of America). What information do these sites and related sites contain? How are disabilities public issues? WORK, Inc. is an organization that assists persons with disabilities define employment objectives. How does it achieve its goals? What is the social function of this agency?
   
   
3. What are the social affects of aging? How do we respond to aging in this society? The Gerontological Society of America and the National Academy on Aging sites contain information on aging research and policy.
   
   

1. Locate the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. Access the Current Population Survey statistics on labor force participation. How do women's and men's labor force participation rates compare? Are there also variations by race/ethnicity? By age? By number of children? How do unemployment rates compare for these groups? How can you explain these patterns?
   
   
2. Using information provided by the Census Bureau, determine the current poverty thresholds for families of different sizes. How do these thresholds compare to the median household income estimate?
   
   
3. Use the Statistical Abstract site to answer What are the fastest growing occupations in the United States? Which are the fastest declining occupations? Do you see any patterns in terms of general occupational categories represented in these groups? What implications do these patterns have for the economy? What characteristics of employees are most in demand? How might this affect the unemployment rates of specific groups in the population?
   
   
4. Using the Census Bureau web site, locate information on the distribution of wealth in the United States. That is, what proportion of net worth does the lowest fifth (quartile) of household income groups possess? What proportion of net worth does the highest fifth (quartile) of household income groups possess? How can you explain any discrepancies in distribution you observe?

1. Search for political action committees (PAC's) [Tip--If you are not successful searching under PAC, try searching under interest groups].. What types of organizations are represented on the WWW? What are the goals of these groups? Can you find information on contributions to political candidates?
   
   
2. Locate information on voting patterns in the U.S. over time ( The Bureau of the Census, Population Division has such data). How has voter registration and voting patterns for specific groups (racial/ethnic groups, women and men, age groups, etc.) shifted over time? What are the implications of these changing patterns?
   
   
3. Using the Census Bureau site above, identify what proportion of the population voted in the last national election. Looking at various groups, how does their voting behavior compare? That is, were there differences in the proportion of persons voting by employment status, age, sex, race/ethnicity, or region? How can you explain these differences?
   
   
4. Locate information on gays and lesbians in the in the military. What can you find relating to the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy? What are the implications of such a policy for gay and lesbian rights?

1. Locate web sites pertaining to adoption and foster parenting (eg. Adoption Options, The Faces of Adoption: Information on Adoption, Foster Parents' Home Page: Information/Links . What types of resources are available for persons interesting in adoption? Try to find discussion groups, support groups and scholarly research on adoption issues. What are the most salient issues? How do race/ethnicity, age and marital status factor into adoption?
   
   
2. Locate the Population Division of the Bureau of the Census web site. What are the most recent estimates of single parent (mother only and father only) families in the United States? How do these estimates compare to the number of married couple families? What kind of change over time to you observe?
   
   
3. Locate the estimates of average number of children per family at the Population Division web site. How has family size changed over time? How can you explain these observations?
   
   
4. What issues are salient to particular family types, such as gay/lesbian parents, single parents , step-parents, adoptive/ foster parents, etc.? Try to locate discussion groups and web sites that are focused around these specific groups. To what degree to the concerns focus on legal issues? What other concerns are voiced?
   
   

1. Using the Statistical Abstract site, locate information on the percent of high school graduates and college graduates by state. Are there any regional patterns in graduation rate? Looking at these statistics, can you determine if there has been any change over the last twenty years? How can you interpret these changes? What implications do these changes have for employment and employment opportunities?
   
   
2. What types of Internet resources are available for educators? Locate several sites (eg. Education resources and links) and compare what is available. What is the role of public television (eg. The Children's Television Workshop and the Internet in education?
   
   
3. Locate information on religious cults by using a search engine. Identify specific groups that have been identified as cults and find sites that are focused on these groups. What kinds of information do you find? Try to locate information both for (eg. members' home pages, information on membership, activities, etc.) and against (outreach organizations, reform/support groups, etc.) these groups. Are there any groups represented as cults that are mainstreamed into society? Do these differ from other cults?
   
   
4. Search for information on a number of different religions (useful links are: Mike Croghan's Religion Page: Information on Religions, Comparative Religion: Scholarly Information. If you have a religious preference, compare the doctrines and beliefs of your religion with those of other religious groups. What similarities do you find among religions? What differences do you find? Do you think the Internet is a useful way for religions to socialize individuals? Why or why not?
   
   

1. What is the most recent estimate of the U.S.and world populations? Examine the historic patterns of population. Identify transition points in population growth. How can you explain these changes?
   
   
2. Obtain information on the U.S. population by age, sex and racial/ethnic group. Which groups show the greatest increase and decline in population. What are the social implications of these changes?
   
   
3. Locate U.S. migration information. Does geographic mobility vary by age group and/or race/ethnicity? How can you explain this variation?
   
   
4. Looking at U.S. states, which states have higher population densities and larger urban centers? How do these factors relate to economic characteristics of the state and cities?
   
   
5. Using a search engine, locate information on a variety of U.S. cities and their sociodemographic characteristics. Try to obtain information on population by racial/ethnic groups. Which cities are more diverse?
   
   

1. Identify contemporary social movements (eg. environmentalism (eg. ECONET: Environmental preservation and sustainability, peace meovements (eg. PeaceNet Home Page: In formation on peace movements), labor movements (eg. LaborNet@igc home page), women's rights (eg. The National Organization For Women home page, men's rights (eg.Men's Issues Page , racial/ethnic equality (eg. Civil Rights Museum: Information on the Civil Rights Movement, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, etc.) and locate web sites that are related to these issues or are specifically focused on these issues. Is information available on local group activities? Is the Internet an efficient way of disseminating information and promoting social change?
   
   
2. Locate information on usage of the Internet and WWW over time. How might this be evidence of rapid social change? What impact do you think such change will have on communication and the production of knowledge? Can proponents of the Internet and WWW technology be viewed as members of a social movement? Why or why not? Several useful sites are Hobbes' Internet Timeline v 1.4 (History of the Internet), WWW Host and Site Growth and Social Movements and Collective Action has a web site that lists activities and research on social movements. Several other sites of interest include: The Carter Center: Non-Partisan public policy research institute, Rand Organization: Public Policy Research and Roy Gentry's Civil Liberties and Human Rights Page.
   
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