Category: Sociology

Instructions

The Topic Idea & Theory Selection is the first assignment for the Sociological Analysis Project.

You will select a social problem to research and prepare a written report. You may choose to evaluate a social concern, issue, event, or phenomenon from a sociological perspective; examine the social construction of personal identity; or evaluate the roots of a social movement.

Your research paper (at the end of the semester) will include key sociological concepts and theories while demonstrating the sociological perspective throughout. There will be individual assignments along the way. Specific grading criteria for each step of the project is provided. See Guidelines for Sociological Analysis Project.’

1/2 typed page. This can be in formatted like an outline or written as a paragraph.

Assignment for Step 1 Topic Idea and Theory Selection.

For this first assignment you will need to choose a social problem specific in its characteristics (see examples in the Guidelines for Sociological Analysis Project), explain why the topic is of interest to you, how it is relevant to sociology, and what sociological theory could be used to explain the topic. Remember you will need to choose a sociological theory to help shed light on your topic — conflict, symbolic interactionism, or functionalism theory.

Read The Social Construction of Gender by Judith Lorber (Reading 7) and Naming All the Parts by Kate Bornstein (Reading 10). Your journal entry must address all the questions below and be at least 350 words long. Do not include the questions in your answer.

1. In what ways do you see yourself doing gender?
2. Lorber argues that gender is a social rather than a biological construct, yet the dominant notion in our society is that gender is linked to biological factors. What would be the implications of accepting the notion that gender is socially constructed and therefore mutable?
3. Lorber discusses many reasons why a culture maintains constructions of gender differences. What are your own ideas regarding why we maintain such constructs?
4. What are some of the ideas Bornstein discusses about how constructs of sex and gender are connected to sexuality?

If needed I will upload readings from book. Will also need to respond to one post from a student I upload.

Overview

In this assignment, you will practice writing four research questions.

Prompt

In Chapters 1 and 2 of your textbook, you learned about the four types of social research: exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and evaluative. In this activity, you will formulate four research questions about support for or against capital punishmentone question per research purpose (exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and evaluative).

• Exploratory
• Write an exploratory research question either for or against capital punishment.
• Descriptive
• Write a descriptive research question either for or against capital punishment.
• Explanatory
• Write an explanatory research question either for or against capital punishment.
• Evaluative
• Write an evaluative research question either for or against capital punishment.

What to Submit

This assignment must be completed in written format. Any references should be cited in APA format.

Overview

In this assignment, you will craft three potential research questions for your research problem.

Prompt

Now that you have chosen your resources and examined the influence of the methodologies and data-collection types on research, its time to use your resources to craft research questions. In Project Three: Research Questions, which is due in Module Eight, you will need to create a research question that addresses a particular research problem and explain your development process. To prepare yourself to explain your development process, think about your research problem, not a specific study, and then complete the following:

Crafting Questions

Craft research questions that would require the researcher to use a particular research methodology. Complete each of the following:

• Craft a qualitative research question.
• Be sure your research question captures your research problem and requires using a qualitative approach to answer the question.
• Craft a quantitative research question.
• Be sure your research question captures your research problem and requires using a quantitative approach to answer the question.
• Craft a mixed-methodology research question.
• Be sure your research question captures your research problem and requires using a mixed-methodology approach to answer the question.

Examination of Questions

Now that you have crafted a research question that would require a particular research methodology, answer each of the following to help choose which research question you will examine further in Project Three in Module Eight:

• Which research question do you think best captures the research problem you would like to explore?
• Remember: Youre not actually performing this research studyyoure just thinking about the research question that you would like to dig into if you were going to conduct a research study.
• Does one of your research questions seem to represent the types of research questions in your field of study more than the others?
• Is there anything you noticed about the creation of these research questions? Was there something that surprised you in their creation? What stood out to you as you were crafting each question?

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Craft a qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodology research question about a specific research problem.
2. Examine research questions in order to select a complex question.

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of an executive summary report. You will write a summary, conduct a crime assessment, and create a profile of a criminal. You will then develop a conclusion and consider the investigative use of the information you have compiled. Criminal psychology encompasses a wide range of information about someone which can be drawn together, synthesized, and written into a format used by the criminal justice system prior to an arrest. Typically, criminal psychologists are called upon to provide advice and consultation when the crimes are not straightforward. Law enforcement officers are experts at tracking data and looking for crime-related clues to help them solve a case. However, when they need assistance determining who a criminal is, or what a criminals motivation might bein a predictive sensethey rely on the capabilities of professionals who are versed both in criminology and psychology. A criminal profile emerges as data comes together. This is not the same as the information you see on the news; rather, it is a comprehensive look at the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that make a person unique to a criminal case. Some of the information is based on empirical data and some is based on educated assumptions made by the criminal psychologist.

In this executive summary report, you will look at a variety of factors and work to answer the question who is this person? You will examine criminal statistics, lifestyle, upbringing, medical and mental health information, along with a range of other information, that will help you answer the who, what, when, where, and why of your chosen case. It will be your job to draw from your previous education and training to learn how to understand what information is relevant to your case. There is no piece of information that is too small to help you build the mosaic of how past activity can help predict future activity. Your profile will be thorough, addressing all of the areas and questions above for the aim of assisting investigators to understand the criminal and his or her motivations and motives as well as the risk of the criminal activity continuing in the future. Through prompts and independent research outside of the text, youll peer into the world of investigative profiling.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

• Assess biological, developmental, and environmental factors to determine the impact on criminal behavior
• Apply relevant psychological theories to criminal behavior in order to analyze motivation
• Apply psychological methods to the development of a psychological profile that synthesizes relevant data
• Determine appropriate intervention strategies related to criminal behavior supported by psychological theory and research

Prompt

You will complete an executive summary report that includes criminal and psychological aspects of a particular crime to inform the executive team in order to prevent or intervene in criminal behavior. You may choose one of the following three scenarios to complete your final project:

1. DOMESTIC TERROR

Specifically, you must address the critical elements listed below. Most of the critical elements align with a particular course outcome (shown in brackets).

1. Summary
2. Summarize the case provided. In your summary, include key facts and demographic information.
3. Develop initial hypothesis about the potential motivation to commit the crime. As you consider the motivation, identify the type of crime that was committed.
4. Crime Assessment
5. Compare data and evidence of similar crimes.
6. Identify patterns found in similar crimes.
7. Make inferences about motivation of the identified individual based on case evidence and comparison to similar crimes.
8. Profile
9. Develop a demographic summary of the individual based on analysis of data from the case.
10. Explain the impact that biological factors of the case had on the individuals behavior.
11. Explain the impact that developmental factors of the case had on the individuals behavior.
12. Explain the impact that environmental factors of the case had on the individuals behavior.
13. Apply theories to the emerging hypothesis of the motivation of your chosen subject. In your response, consider the biological, psychological, social, and criminal violence theories.
14. Conclusion and Investigative Use
15. Develop a global summary based on a synthesis of the inputs, crime assessment, and profile.
16. Anticipate future behavior based on predictive analysis.
17. Develop intervention strategies to mitigate future criminal behavior. Be sure to explain how your strategies will impact future behavior.
18. Discuss limitations of data to developing your report. In your response, consider the information that was missing that you wish you had and reliability and validity of the data you reviewed.
19. Based on your report, discuss how the information collected contributed to the capture, understanding, and prosecution of the individual.

Milestones

Milestone One: Summary and Crime Assessment

In Module Three, you will submit a draft of your summary and crime assessment. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: Profile

In Module Five, you will submit a draft of the profile. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Final Submission: Executive Summary Report

In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. You will add the conclusion and investigative use section to the final project submission. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

MILESTONE 2 GUIDELINES:

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of an executive summary report. You will write a summary, conduct a crime assessment, and create a profile of a criminal. You will then develop a conclusion and consider the investigative use of the information you have compiled. Criminal psychology encompasses a wide range of information about someone which can be drawn together, synthesized, and written into a format used by the criminal justice system prior to an arrest. Typically, criminal psychologists are called upon to provide advice and consultation when the crimes are not straightforward. Law enforcement officers are experts at tracking data and looking for crimerelated clues to help them solve a case. However, when they need assistance determining who a criminal is, or what a criminals motivation might bein a predictive sensethey rely on the capabilities of professionals who are versed both in criminology and psychology. A criminal profile emerges as data comes together. This is not the same as the information you see on the news; rather, it is a comprehensive look at the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that make a person unique to a criminal case. Some of the information is based on empirical data and some is based on educated assumptions made by the criminal psychologist.

In this executive summary report, you will look at a variety of factors and work to answer the question who is this person? You will examine criminal statistics, lifestyle, upbringing, medical and mental health information, along with a range of other information, that will help you answer the who, what, when, where, and why of your chosen case. It will be your job to draw from your previous education and training to learn how to understand what information is relevant to your case. There is no piece of information that is too small to help you build the mosaic of how past activity can help predict future activity. Your profile will be thorough, addressing all of the areas and questions above for the aim of assisting investigators to understand the criminal and his or her motivations and motives as well as the risk of the criminal activity continuing in the future. Through prompts and independent research outside of the text, youll peer into the world of investigative profiling.

For this Milestone Two task, you will complete a draft of the profile portion of the final project assessment.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Profile
2. Develop a demographic summary of the individual based on analysis of data from the case.
3. Explain the impact that biological factors of the case had on the individuals behavior
4. Explain the impact that developmental factors of the case had on the individuals behavior.
5. Explain the impact that environmental factors of the case had on the individuals behavior.
6. Apply theories to the emerging hypothesis of the motivation of your chosen subject. In your response, consider the biological, psychological, social, and criminal violence theories.

Critical ElementsExceeds Expectations

Meets Expectations

Partially Meets Expectations

Does Not Meet Expectations

Criterion Score

Summary: Summarize the Case

18 points

Exceeds expectations and response demonstrates an advanced ability to distill key details from a provided case study

15.3 points

Summarizes the case study and includes key facts and demographic information

9.9 points

Summarizes the case study but summary is missing key facts or demographic information

0 points

Does not summarize the case study

Score of Summary: Summarize the Case,

9.9 / 18

Criterion Feedback

You didn’t really give any background of the case. Much more is needed here to provide evidence that leads you to your hypothesis.

Summary: Initial Hypothesis

18 points

Exceeds expectations and response demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the potential motivation to commit the crime

15.3 points

Develops initial hypothesis about the potential motivation to commit the crime

9.9 points

Develops initial hypothesis about the potential motivation to commit the crime but the hypothesis is cursory or lacks detail

0 points

Does not develop an initial hypothesis about the potential motivation to commit the crime

Score of Summary: Initial Hypothesis,

18 / 18

Criterion Feedback

Great job identifying your hypothesis and providing supportive evidence, though there were no sources provided.

Crime Assessment: Compare

18 points

Exceeds expectations and comparison is exceptionally clear and includes exceptional detail

15.3 points

Compares data and evidence of similar crimes

9.9 points

Compares data and evidence of similar crimes but comparison is cursory or contains inaccuracies

0 points

Does not compares data and evidence of similar crimes

Score of Crime Assessment: Compare,

15.3 / 18

Criterion Feedback

I think you did well comparing Cho to other lone-actor domestic terrorists in general. However, using a specific case would have been beneficial in that it would give a concrete example.

Crime Assessment: Identify Patterns

18 points

Exceeds expectations and demonstrates keen ability to identify patterns

15.3 points

Identifies patterns found in similar crimes

9.9 points

Identifies patterns found in similar crimes but response is cursory, illogical, or lacks detail

0 points

Does not identify patterns found in similar crimes

Score of Crime Assessment: Identify Patterns,

9.9 / 18

Criterion Feedback

You identified Cho’s patterns, but didn’t connect those to any other offenders. The point here is to demonstrate a pattern of behavior demonstrated by multiple people that have committed the same types of crimes.

Crime Assessment: Motivation

18 points

Exceeds expectations and inferences show advanced ability to draw connections from evidence in multiple cases

15.3 points

Draws inferences about the motivation of the individual to commit the crime based on evidence in multiple cases

9.9 points

Draws inferences about the motivation of the individual to commit the crime but response is cursory, illogical, or lacks justification

0 points

Does not draw inferences about the motivation of the individual to commit the crime

Score of Crime Assessment: Motivation,

15.3 / 18

Criterion Feedback

I think you did a good job of discussing how Cho’s childhood and adolescent experiences could have led to his violent and antisocial behavior. I would like to see you expand a bit into how you believe those experiences led him to murder. There are plenty of people that get bullied or need to acculturate to a new land, but rarely does that lead to homicide. How is Cho different? What do you think about his case tipped the scales toward actually carrying out his hateful thoughts?

Clear Communication

10 points

Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding

8.5 points

Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience

5.5 points

Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding

0 points

Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication

Score of Clear Communication,

8.5 / 10

Criterion Feedback

Your work was well organized and easy to read. No issues with spelling, grammar, or structure. Your citations looked great! I think moving forward you need to cite more in-text, there were many paragraphs that had no citation despite the fact that you’re discussing learned information.

Also, make sure you are using scholarly sources.

TotalScore of PSY 310 Milestone One Rubric,

76.9 / 100

For this assignment, you are tasked with writing a 5-7 page research paper that applies sociological theories and concepts to a real-world scenario in South Florida. You will analyze how various sociological elementssuch as culture, socialization, inequality, deviance, power structures, and social changeinteract within a local context. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate your understanding of sociological principles by applying them to a contemporary social issue or event in South Florida.

Important: Your research must be substantiated with scholarly sources. You are expected to conduct original research using academic journals, books, and other credible sources. Use the available in this course. The use of AI tools (including ChatGPT, Googles AI, or any other automatic content generation tools) for content creation is strictly prohibited in this assignment. This assignment will be graded on the basis of research, critical thinking, sociological application, and clarity of argument.

Assignment Instructions

Read the following sociological scenarios that reflect current social issues or phenomena within South Florida and choose ONE for your paper.

The Impact of Immigration on Local Communities: Analyze how the influx of immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean influences social dynamics, integration, and identity in South Florida, considering race, class, and cultural practices.Housing Inequality and Gentrification in Miami: Explore the impact of gentrification on low-income communities, particularly marginalized racial and ethnic groups in neighborhoods like Little Haiti or Overtown. Analyze how urban development reshapes social networks and inequalities.Social Media and Youth Culture in South Florida: Investigate how social media influences the socialization of young people in South Florida, particularly how it shapes issues of identity, self-presentation, and deviance.Climate Change and Social Inequality in Coastal Communities: Examine how communities in South Florida are affected by the rising sea levels and climate change, particularly low-income neighborhoods or communities of color. Analyze the intersectionality of environmental justice with social class and race.

Provide a sociological overview of your chosen scenario. Discuss the historical, social, and cultural context relevant to South Florida. Include information about the regions demographics, its unique cultural landscape, and its social challenges.

Apply Sociological Theories: Choose at least three sociological concepts/theories that relate to your topic. These might include:

1. Social Stratification (e.g., class, race, or gender inequality)
2. Socialization (e.g., agents of socialization like family, media, or peer groups)
3. Power and Authority (e.g., the role of government, law enforcement, or corporations in shaping societal norms)
4. Cultural Identity (e.g., how identity is shaped in South Florida, considering multiculturalism)
5. Deviance (e.g., norms, laws, and responses to deviant behavior)
6. Social Change (e.g., environmental or technological changes impacting social relations)

Use empirical research to support your analysis. This could include:

• Academic journal articles
• Government reports (e.g., census data, studies by local organizations)
• Credible news sources (e.g., reports on social movements, interviews with local leaders or activists)

Paper Structure

Your paper should be organized and clearly written, adhering to the following structure:

Introduction:

Introduce the sociological issue or phenomenon you are analyzing. Provide a brief overview of South Floridas context related to the issue. State your thesis: What is your central argument about the issue and its sociological implications?

Literature review and analysis:

Provide an overview of existing research on your topic, specifically focusing on studies related to South Florida.

Summarize key sociological concepts or theories that are relevant to your topic. Then:

1. Apply the sociological theories and concepts to analyze your chosen issue in the context of South Florida.
2. Discuss the implications for local communities, drawing on specific examples from the region (e.g., local demographics, events, news stories).
3. Address any sociological phenomena such as power, privilege, or resistance that may emerge.

Conclusion:

Summarize your findings and discuss the larger implications of the issue youve explored.

Offer recommendations or possible solutions, if applicable.

Citations and References:

Use APA or MLA format for citations and references. Include a minimum of 2 scholarly sources (books, journal articles, credible reports). Make sure to include a local source that discuss South Florida specifically. Do not use AI-based tools for generating content, and ensure all sources are properly cited.

Additional GuidelinesLength: The paper should be 5-7 pages, not including the title page or reference page.Formatting: Use standard 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins.*** Plagiarism: Any instances of plagiarism (including using AI tools to generate content) will result in a grade of “F” for the assignment and may lead to further academic consequences.Grading Criteria

Your paper will be graded based on the following criteria:

• Understanding and Application of Sociological Concepts: How well do you integrate sociological theories and concepts into your analysis of the issue?
• Depth and Clarity of Analysis: How thoroughly do you analyze the social issue, and how clearly do you present your argument and evidence?
• Use of Research and Evidence: Are your arguments supported by relevant, credible research and data? Are your sources properly cited?
• Organization and Writing Quality: Is the paper well-organized and clearly written? Does it follow the correct format, with no grammatical errors or awkward phrasing? Is it 5-7 pages long?

500 words of substantive content use 2 quotes from the readings (citations needed)

These will cover the reading material for that week in which they are listed. Check the reading assignment calendar for exact dates these are due. The papers will be about 2+ pages, single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1 margins, no heading.

They must be between 1200-1300 words in length. I only want your name at the top and nothing else; again, you need to meet the word requirement. Points will be deducted if you use larger font, spread out your font, adjust your margins, dont meet the word count, etc.These papers will include your thoughts on the assigned reading (there is no formal prompt). It is expected that the assignment will be well edited, thoughtful, and written in true essay format. Points will be deducted for short papers, poor grammar, bullet points, and the like.The papers will be checked with Turnitin.com, so do not collaborate with others.

You are NOT allowed to use AI, Grammarly, ChatGPT, Guru, Synthesis or any other word spinner or outside software for these papers. If so, a 0 will be given!

Think of these writing like a journal. If I asked “what was the reading about this week”, you will then write….. Again, nothing formal, just you typing your thoughts, feelings, personal experiences, etc. about the week’s readings.

Quotes from the book can be used but should not be the majority of your paper and should be marked as quotations so as not to plagiarize. The paper should not show more than 10% match with other sources in Turnitin.com. These papers can include personal stories of experiences you have had related to this section, information from the research you found in the books that sheds more light on the topic, questions/arguments about the reading you want to bring to light, thoughts on applications of the material to your own life, etc. This is your time to show you thoroughly read the material, understand it and can apply it. Late assignment will be given a 0