Chapter 2Chapter 2

Studying the World of WorkStudying the World of Work

How Do We Measure How Do We Measure Concepts?Concepts?

We try to use reliable and valid measures.We try to use reliable and valid measures.

Valid: You are measuring what you Valid: You are measuring what you think you are: ie. What is class?think you are: ie. What is class?

Reliable: Consistent measure over Reliable: Consistent measure over timetime

Wages: How can we understand why Wages: How can we understand why white men tend to make more?white men tend to make more?

Why Do White Men Make Why Do White Men Make More?More?

What is a Research Method?What is a Research Method?

Way of collecting information that is Way of collecting information that is unbiased and attempts to reflect reality.unbiased and attempts to reflect reality.

Epistemologies: Epistemologies: PositivismPositivism Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

Research MethodsResearch Methods

1) Qualitative: Tries to uncover meaning.1) Qualitative: Tries to uncover meaning. Ethnograpahy –Ethnograpahy –

ObservationObservation Helps uncover meaning for worker in a particular Helps uncover meaning for worker in a particular

positionposition De-constructs realities that people take for grantedDe-constructs realities that people take for granted Participant ObservationParticipant Observation

B) Non participant observationB) Non participant observation• Experimental bias -- Hawthorne EffectExperimental bias -- Hawthorne Effect””

Research MethodsResearch Methods

2) Quantitative: Gather data using large 2) Quantitative: Gather data using large samples with the goal of representing the samples with the goal of representing the population under studypopulation under study SurveysSurveys Secondary Data AnalysisSecondary Data Analysis

Representative samples are imperative.Representative samples are imperative.

Research MethodsResearch Methods

2) Multiple Methods2) Multiple Methods• HistoricalHistorical• ComparativeComparative

• SURVEYS (SAMPLES VS POPULATIONS)SURVEYS (SAMPLES VS POPULATIONS)• (RANDOM VS NONRANDOM)(RANDOM VS NONRANDOM)

• Bureau of the Census (monthly labor)Bureau of the Census (monthly labor)

• Case StudiesCase Studies One place, multiple perspectives and multiple methods: One place, multiple perspectives and multiple methods:

interviews, documents, observations.interviews, documents, observations.

Pros and ConsPros and Cons

1) Qualitative versus Quantitative1) Qualitative versus Quantitative

Units of AnalysisUnits of Analysis

What and Whom is being studied.What and Whom is being studied.

Workers?Workers? Professions?Professions? Workplaces?Workplaces? Countries?Countries?

Example: UnemploymentExample: Unemployment How do we measure unemployed?How do we measure unemployed?

Quantitatively: Quantitatively: Current Population Survey monthly checks with 60,000 households.Current Population Survey monthly checks with 60,000 households.

16 years or older16 years or older¼ of survey changes each month¼ of survey changes each monthCluster sampling: first stage is counties Cluster sampling: first stage is counties and and then households then households and then individuals and then individuals within households.within households.Stratified: Rural/UrbanStratified: Rural/Urban

PROBLEMS WITH THESE DEFINITIONS?PROBLEMS WITH THESE DEFINITIONS?

Definition of UnemploymentDefinition of Unemployment

1) Anyone who is actively looking for work 1) Anyone who is actively looking for work but who has not received a wage.but who has not received a wage.

Who is unemployed?Who is unemployed? Someone who worked 2 hours the previous Someone who worked 2 hours the previous

week?week? Someone with a PhD working at a fast food joint?Someone with a PhD working at a fast food joint? Someone seeking work but who babysits Someone seeking work but who babysits

occasionally.occasionally.

UnemploymentUnemployment

How to measure qualitatively:How to measure qualitatively:

Interview people to understand their Interview people to understand their experience.experience.

How would data differ?How would data differ?

Qualitative: Inductive CodingQualitative: Inductive Coding

Find Sociological Themes. Find Sociological Themes. What makes a theme sociological?What makes a theme sociological?

• The theme uncovers the relationship The theme uncovers the relationship between concepts under study. between concepts under study.

• The themes are deeper and more The themes are deeper and more meaningful than manifest symbolsmeaningful than manifest symbols

• The themes show the social construction of The themes show the social construction of how we think about concepts such as crime, how we think about concepts such as crime, gender, homelessness, poverty, wealth, gender, homelessness, poverty, wealth, rationality. In other words, these themes call rationality. In other words, these themes call into question everything we take for granted.into question everything we take for granted.

Qualitative AnalysisQualitative Analysis

DON’TDON’T Organize analysis based on questionsOrganize analysis based on questions Begin with pre-determined ideas of how to analyze dataBegin with pre-determined ideas of how to analyze data Analyze by summarizing answers to each questions.Analyze by summarizing answers to each questions.

DODO Read/Listen the interviews several times.Read/Listen the interviews several times. Jot down trends you see related to concepts of interest.Jot down trends you see related to concepts of interest.

Important Concepts in Study of Important Concepts in Study of WorkWork

1) Occupation: Economic role in paid labor 1) Occupation: Economic role in paid labor market.market.

• Problems with this concept: job titlesProblems with this concept: job titles

2) White/Blue Collar: Professional versus 2) White/Blue Collar: Professional versus Office workers.Office workers.

• Problems with this concept: Starbucks vs FactoriesProblems with this concept: Starbucks vs Factories