Morton R100 Handouts 1 
Handout 1: The Sociological Perspective Name: ____________________________________
1. Watch “The Undertaking” where this video examines a family who works in the funeral industry as a window into American feelings on death and dying. Then, respond to the following questions: How do funeral rituals describe by the Lynch family show our cultural values about death and dying? How would a sociologist create a research question to systematically evaluate the claims that the Lynch family makes about death and dying? The funeral industry arguably exists to serve micro-level relationships, consoling individuals who have just lost others central to their social existence. How is the funeral industry connected to institutions at the community and national levels? While it seems like the funeral industry is very helpful and necessary, why do you think there is a stigma against it at the society level?
2. Watch “The Case of Beckett Brennan” and imagine you are conducting research about date rape on university campuses. Which research method or methods would be most conducive or least conducive to such a study? Why? If you were to use interviews in your study, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of employing closed-ended questions? How about open-ended questions? In conducting the interviews, what would you do to try to establish good rapport with your subjects? Finally, no matter which research method you choose, what are some of the ways gender may affect the viability of your study? What, if anything, can you do to minimize its effects?
Handout 2: Culture Name: ____________________________________
1. Watch “Growing Up Online” where this episode is about the impact of the Internet on the current generation. It shows how the Internet is reforming key social institutions, but particularly the relationships of young adults. Then, respond to the following questions: What role does the Internet play in defining youth
1. Watch “The Undertaking” where this video examines a family who works in the funeral industry as a window into American feelings on death and dying. Then, respond to the following questions: How do funeral rituals describe by the Lynch family show our cultural values about death and dying? How would a sociologist create a research question to systematically evaluate the claims that the Lynch family makes about death and dying? The funeral industry arguably exists to serve micro-level relationships, consoling individuals who have just lost others central to their social existence. How is the funeral industry connected to institutions at the community and national levels? While it seems like the funeral industry is very helpful and necessary, why do you think there is a stigma against it at the society level?
2. Watch “The Case of Beckett Brennan” and imagine you are conducting research about date rape on university campuses. Which research method or methods would be most conducive or least conducive to such a study? Why? If you were to use interviews in your study, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of employing closed-ended questions? How about open-ended questions? In conducting the interviews, what would you do to try to establish good rapport with your subjects? Finally, no matter which research method you choose, what are some of the ways gender may affect the viability of your study? What, if anything, can you do to minimize its effects?
Handout 2: Culture Name: ____________________________________
1. Watch “Growing Up Online” where this episode is about the impact of the Internet on the current generation. It shows how the Internet is reforming key social institutions, but particularly the relationships of young adults. Then, respond to the following questions: What role does the Internet play in defining youth