Essay Sample on Sociological Imagination and the Scientific Method

According to C. Wright Mills history refers to the larger social challenges and events in the society. He goes further to define biography as problems and events that occur in ones personal life. Mills explains how sociological imagination allows people to understand biography and history as well as the relationship that exists between the two within any social boundary. Over the years, there has been no single social study that does not take into consideration personal issues and challenges, social events and challenges, and their intersection. Mills emphasizes that sociology tends to link a persons circumstances with the greater social context (Mills, 2016, p. 20). Having the ability to practice ones sociological imagination, to fully grasp how social institutions influence our lives is by far very empowering. This type of understanding enables individuals to take control of their lives, instead of simply accepting and adapting to situations handed to them. For instance, university students who party four nights in a week and rarely attend class possess personal issues that inhibit their odds of success in school. Nonetheless, when half of all university students fail to graduate, we see it as just another social problem.

Private troubles also known as personal problems relate to the experiences of an individual. Mills explains that, in our personal lives, we assume the role of actors and actresses who make choices about school, work, our family, friends, groups, and other matters that affect our lives. Within the personal level, we can impact the outcome of matters. Public issues, on the other hand, are social issues that are beyond any particular persons control and the range of ones personal life. These problems relate to societys processes and manner of organization. Furthermore, these challenges are common in the society than in the individual. Therefore a trouble is a private matter if: values cherished by an individual are felt by him to be threatened (Mills, 2016, p. 396). On the contrary, trouble is a public matter only when values cherished by the public are threatened (Mills, 2016, p. 396). For example, teenagers in most countries are frequently texting, surfing the net, playing video games, hanging out at malls, watching television shows and movies, and working at least part-time. Where and how would the youngsters get experience concentrating devotion on studies as well as the rigorous self-discipline that transitions into their study, college credits, papers, group work, projects, field trips, or test taking?

The word empirical in the scientific method, denotes the use of a working theory that can be confirmed using experimentation as well as observation. The scientific method involves a series of steps established over long periods of scholarship. The first step in the scientific method is to ask questions, fully describe the issue, while identifying the area of interest. The next step scholars embark on is to research the form of literature review, which involves a review of existing related or similar material. Formulating a hypothesis is what follows, a hypothesis refers to a notion that explains how variables are related. The fourth step is to design and conduct a study where the aim is to acquire different views and angles from various sources. After conducting the study, the final step is to draw conclusions and report on the outcome (The Scientific Method | Sociology, n.d.).

References

Mills, C. W. (2016). The sociological imagination.

Reading: The Scientific Method | Sociology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/intro-to-sociology/chapter/the-scientific-method