UNIT 2. SOCIAL BAROMETER

A great part of sociological research consists of quantitative experimenting. The system of techniques used for that purpose is that of statistical methods. These methods are necessary to examine the data, analyze them and draw certain conclusions. The results of the sociological survey are published then.

Sociological research is usually conducted by a working group under the supervision of the leading sociologists of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion. The public opinion poll is a criterion of the current social life within the society. It is the so-called social barometer of the country. In fact our fast-moving life makes it necessary to analyze things. So it is useful to examine the results of sociological surveys.

The public opinion poll is carried out nationwide or in some definite regions, cities, establishments. It may be verbal in the form of an interview. But more often the opinion poll is conducted by means of tests or questionnaires. The questionnaires contain some items to be chosen by the subjects. In other cases the questionnaires present a set of questions to be answered by the respondents in their individual way. The polled may express their own opinions verbally or in writing. The assessments may be optimistic, pessimistic, dramatic, positive, or negative. They expose and reassess our ideals and values.

The polls are very popular nowadays throughout the country. In general, they are directed to assess current social and political situation, political figures, the most important events, economic perspectives, our losses and gains, and so on. All data are given in percentages.

Task 1. Transcribe the following words and learn their pronunciation:

analyze, barometer, criterion, examine, figure, ideal, individual, interview, percentage, perspective, respondent, result, situation, technique

Task 2. Answer the following questions:

1. What methods are the basic tools in every sociological research?

2. Who conducts sociological research?

3. What is considered to be a social barometer?

4. Where is the public opinion poll carried out?

5. In what form may it be conducted?

6. What are the questionnaires like?

7. How do the polled express their opinions?

8. What do assessments expose?

9. What is the aim of the polls?

10. How are all data given?

Task 3. Divide the text into four logical parts.

Task 4. Speak on the main points of the text.

Task 5. Try to make up your own questionnaire and offer it to your groupmates.

Task 6. Look through the fresh newspapers and find there some information on the latest polls. Be ready to comment on it.

Task 7. Translate the following words and word-combinations into Russian:

Sociological research, sociological survey, public opinion, public opinion poll, to conduct a poll, to carry out a poll, the polled, respondent, to assess, to reassess, assessment

Task 8. Find in the text English equivalents for:

система методов; с этой целью; рабочая группа; современная общественная жизнь; так называемый; по всей стране; в других случаях; ряд вопросов; пересмотреть идеалы; потери и приобретения; и так далее; в процентах; в наше время

Task 9. Fill in the blanks with the necessary words: to conduct, conclusions, to examine, poll, to assess, assessments

1. Statistical methods are used to analyze the data and draw ….

2. The opinion … is carried out nationwide.

3. Leading sociologists … a poll all over the country.

4. The polls are directed to … social and political situation.

5. The respondents give their … verbally or in writing.

6. Sociologists carefully … the obtained data.

Task 10. Complete the following sentences:

1. The public opinion poll is a criterion of ….

2. It is the so-called ….

3. The poll is carried out ….

4. It may be verbal in the form of ….

5. The opinion poll is conducted by means of ….

6. The polls are directed to ….

7. The poll data are given in ….

8. The assessments may be ….

9. The polls are very popular nowadays ….

10. The questionnaires contain some items ….

Task 11. Translate the text in writing:

The foundation of Comte’s work was an attempt to apply scientific methods to the study of society and to the practical task of social reform. In his own lifetime, scientific thinking was becoming more sophisticated and influential than ever before, increasing human knowledge about the physical world. Why not, Comte reasoned, apply the same scientific methods to understanding the social world? In Comte’s view, sociology should attempt to determine the laws that govern human social behavior, in much the same way that natural laws govern the operation of the physical world. Comte’s sociological study was concerned with what he called social statics - how society maintains itself as a cohesive system of many interrelated parts – and social dynamics – how society changes in an orderly way according to specific social laws.

Task 12. Memorize the following words and word-combinations:

assess nationwide

assessment obtain

by means of publish

carry out research quantitative

conduct research respondent

current subject (n., v.)

draw conclusions technique

event the polled

expose under the supervision

item verbally

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