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2.1 Define what theories are and explain why they are important in understanding social phenomena.

Video Link: Breaking Down Sociology's Three Main Schools of Thought 
Description: Explains the three main schools of thought for sociology: Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism.

Audio Link: Exploring 21st Century Sociology 
Description: Discusses the role of sociology in the twenty-first century. The new-generation sociologists are developing ideas that analyze contemporary cultural and political life based on the theories of early figures of sociology.

Web Resource: Durkheim and Weber’s Contrasting Imagination 
Description: This website compares and contrasts Emile Durkheim and Max Weber’s theories and explains their theoretical perspectives on society. It also discusses the classical sociologists’ theories that resonate in Emile Durkheim and Max Weber’s works and current sociologists who based their ideas on these two sociologists.

2.2 Identify the most important classical sociologists, particularly Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, and their major contributions to the field.

Video Link:  Four Major Figures in Sociology 
Description: The video describes sociologists Aguste Comte, Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim and their contributions to the field of sociology.

Audio Link: The Roots of our Beliefs about the Value of Hard Work 
Description: The audio discusses the ideas of moral power, the value of hard work, and how it relates to a secular setting in Max Weber’s book Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

Web Resource: The Ten Most Influential Sociologists of the 20th Century 
Description: This website discusses prominent thinkers in the field of sociology and their contributions to society.

2.3 Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of structural/functional, conflict/critical, and inter/actionist theories.

Video Link: A Deeper Look into Sociology Theories 
Description: This video explains Conflict Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Symbolic Interactionism and compares and contrasts them as they apply to social circumstances.

Audio Link: Why a Sociologist is Part of Building a Better Power Grid 
Description: The audio discusses the job of a sociologist in designing a new power grid.

Web Resource: Analyzing Social and Behavior Theories 
Description: Defines what social and behavioral theories are and explains its importance as a model that works in a limited range of settings.

2.4 Describe the scientific method. 

Video Link: Sociology Speculating versus Scientific Method 
Description: Explains the difference between speculation and the scientific method. Furthermore, the video explains why using the scientific method is an objective approach to studying and researching a subject.

Audio Link: Big Data is Not a Cure-All in Medicine 
Description: Big data has become more easily accessible, readily available online, and progressively searchable. This podcast discusses the trend of using big data in medicinal research, and the way it may impact research.

Web Resource:  Sociology/Sociological Methods 
Description: Illustrates how sociologists use the scientific method to investigate and understand social phenomena.

2.5 Describe the various methods of sociological research and the types of questions each one can help us answer.

Video Link: How Sociology Methods Use Data to Think Deeper 
Description: To generate an understanding of how sociologists try to go beyond statistical information and how asking the right questions can generate a deeper understanding of human behavior.

Audio Link: How Mad Cow Research Hints at Ways to Halt Major Diseases  
Description: To generate an understanding of how sociologists try to go beyond statistical information and how asking the right questions can generate a deeper understanding of human behavior.

Web Resource: Tips for Writing Research Question  
Description: Describes the importance of questions in research and how research questions can guide and center the research.

2.6 Describe how sociologists engage in secondary data analysis

Video Link: How Sociologists are Using Secondary Data Analysis 
Description: This video describes the method of using preexisting data in a different way. It explains the advantages and the disadvantages for researchers when using second data analysis.

Audio Link: Using Student Data to Spot At-Risk Students 
Description: Describes how relying on the analysis of secondary data from other resources can help identify students’ problems outside of the school environment.

Web Resource: Recap on Secondary Data Analysis in Sociology 
Description: Explains how researchers use second data analysis, the advantages and disadvantages of using this method, and provides examples of where second data resources can be found.

2.7 Identify the key issues in social research, including reliability, validity, trust, legality, and objectivity.

Video Link: Clarifying Reliability versus Validity 
Description: Explains what reliability and validity are and its importance when conducting social research.

Video Link: Practice Research Ethics 
Description: Explains the historical reasons and the importance of having ethical standards in research.

Audio Link: Scientists Urge Temporary Moratorium on Human Genome Edits 
Description: Bioethicists are calling for worldwide moratorium to stop researchers from using new technology to alter the human genomic code until more research, discussions, and regulations are put in place.

Web Resource: Ethics  Applied in Social Research 
Description: Identifies the key issues in social research. It explains concepts such as reliability, validity, ethics in research, and avoidance of harm.