Sociology; Experiences and perceptions
Interview a family member, neighbor, friend or acquaintance who is over 18 and at least two generations older
or younger that you. You will conduct a brief interview of your subject about their experiences and perceptions
when they were older/younger surrounding one of the subject areas described in your textbook ( ex. CrimeDeviance, Socialization, The Sociological Perspective/Theory, Sociological Research Methods, Socialization,
Educational Institutions). Write or audio record the interview questions/responses and use your notes as your
field notes. Incorporate the information derived from your field notes, sociological concepts from applicable
chapters in your textbook to construct your work.
Write a brief evaluation summarizing the information gathered from your interview and your modern day
perceptions of the topic you chose and compare/contrast the two (your observations/experiences and those of
your interview subject). In the process, you should consider the following questions:
a. ) What messages do we receive from others about allegedly “positive” attributes or “negative” attributes of
members of other social groups or our own social groups (ie. Social groups based on gender, social class, race
and/or ethnicity or other topic)?
b.) How does early socialization affect our self-identity (include gender and/or racial socialization or other topic,
where applicable)?
c.) Explore the ways in which our attitudes and actions toward others are guided by cultural perceptions?
d.) What research methods apply to this evaluation and which theoretical perspective best fit your interpretation
(Conflict or Functionalist or Symbolic Interactionist.