Introduction
- Interview
Application of a sociological perspective to the individuals’ lives
Benefits and limitations to using interview as a research methodology
Conclusion
- Analysis of each person’s culture component in relation to his/her stratified position in society.
Introduction
Interview 1:Mr. M.V
- Identification of person’s class, race, and gender
- Role class, race, and gender played in his life
Interview 11:Mrs. JM.
•Role class, race, and gender played in her life
Definitely, an attorney of law is an elevated social class similar to doctor being perceived as academic material of a very high standard. Mrs.JM recalled growing up in a predominantly Hispanic community she did not clearly understand when African Americans expressed their pains of segregation period while subtly demonstrating their resentment of Hispanics due to their nearness to white. However, she had to learn that this is where her race placed her in a society where racial prejudice and structured inequality were prevalent.
Application of a sociological perspective to the individuals’ lives
There are three sociological perspectives namely Structural/Functional; conflict and Symbolic/Interactionist perspectives. As it relates to the first interview with Mr. M.V an African American male high school science teacher a perspective, which in my opinion is most applicable is conflict. A conflict perspective conceives society consisting of struggles for resources and power. However, change is inevitable and beneficial, but could produce violence. Essentially, social change emerges from the struggle between classes as some groups are proposer at the expense of others that suffer. Ultimately, conflict becomes the universally accepted pattern of social interaction as inequality is extensive (Mooney et.al, 2012). Mr. M.V expressed this phenomenon in describing the difficulty in navigating through a system festered with racial prejudice and structured inequality.
With reference to the second interview between me and Mrs. J.M, a Hispanic female attorney at law the symbolic interaction sociological perspective seems most applicable to her life story. This paradigm perceives society from interactions with individuals and small groups such as those found within Mrs. J.M’s community growing up and the wider legal professional world to which she became a part through education and certification. Essentially, these interactions are facilitated through shared interpretations of symbols and gestures during non-verbal communication (Mooney et.al, 2012).
Verbally, questions requesting explanations of how individuals experience each other within a social context; how meanings of interactions are interpreted from time to time and what factors force people to construct a sense of self and society generally (Mooney et.al, 2012). Mrs. J.M, a Hispanic female obviously, communicated through shared interpretations of symbols and gestures within her Hispanic community growing up. Attaining the position of attorney at law this learnt communication was then transposed at a different level during interactions with colleagues; clients and members of the public. Subsequently, asking questions exploring human behavior become inevitable from both a professional and personal perspective.
Benefits and limitations to using interview as a research methodology
Benefits
A major benefit of using interview as a research methodology is direct contact with the participant, especially, if face to face is the type of technique being used. Interviews facilitate finding the most appropriate population, especially, if random sampling is the technique of choice. Thirdly, the interviewer has the privilege of observing verbal as well as non-verbal, responses, which may be concealed when filling out a questionnaire (Phellas et.al, 2011).
Limitations
Conducting interviews require training of support staff; it may take a long time to complete and ultimately is far more costly than administered questionnaire. Data analysis could be influenced by subjectivity because the interviewer has the potential to impact responses through verbal and non-verbal cues (Phellas et.al, 2011).
Conclusion
Analysis of each person’s culture component in relation to his/her stratified position in society.
References
Alexander, M. (2012). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in Age of ColorBlindness. New
York. New Press.
Ahmed, Ali M. (2007). Group identity, social distance and intergroup bias. Journal of Economic
Psychology 28 (3): 324–337.
Mooney, L. Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2012). Understanding Social Problems. New York.
Cengage Learning
Phellas, C. Bloch, A., & Seale, C. (2011). Structured Methods: Interviews Questionnaires and
Observations. Retrieved September, 17th, 2013 from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-
data/47370_Seale_Chapter_11.pdf
