Assignment 1: Qualitative Research, COVID-19 global effects on human behavior for years to come Essay Help
Assignment 1: Qualitative Research
The past year has been quite a change. Sociologists are going to be studying how COVID-19 has affected human behavior around the globe for years to come. This week you'll start that research through participant observation (qualitative research).
First, find a social setting, e.g., family dinner, a synchronous online class meeting, place of employment, or another location where you can observe people's behavior. Observe individuals or groups in the setting for a minimum of a half-hour. Blend in well—although you may be a participant observer, i.e., actively engaged in the social setting, you won't talk to those you're observing about your study… consider yourself "undercover"
Next, based upon your observations and understanding of the readings for the first two weeks:
How would you interpret and describe the social setting, human behavior, etc. as it relates to responding to COVID-19? Has COVID-19 changed their behavior from pre-pandemic times? How? Are they concerned about social distancing? Work? School? Family well-being, etc? Use clear examples of people's behavior, and explain how you are able to avoid the Hawthorne effect during your study (20 pts) Upon completing your observations, what are some questions that you have about what you have just observed? Introduce at least one question (5 pts).
To help guide your question development, incorporate one of the sociological perspectives: conflict, functionalist, or interactionist perspective (see ch.1). Explain why the perspective is relevant; use examples from the observations and readings (20 pts)
Now develop an hypothesis to further demonstrate what you think are causal relationships based upon your observations. Use the "if-then" formula as indicated in this week's Objectives and Overview" to help you identify the independent (IV) and dependent variable(s) (DV). Explain further why these variables are important to observe. (20 pts)
Finally, suggest a quantitative method of data collection (see chapter 2) that may help increase our understanding of the social setting you observed. Be sure to explain why you chose that particular quantitative method, e.g. noting the benefits. (10 pts)
Other Grading Criteria
Length of paper should be 4-5 pages; no less, no more (5 pts)
NOTE: Papers less than 4 full pages will not be graded.
Paper should be double-spaced, 1" margins on all sides, with a title page (title page does not count as one of the total pages) (5 pts)
Citations, references and examples (10 pts)
Cited terms/perspectives and examples from the textbook should be used throughout the paper
All key terms, perspectives should be clearly introduced and defined.
NOTE: You will need to use the American Sociological Associations style guide (see attached document in Module for this week) to get full credit. For example (Griffiths et al. 2015: pg number)
Submit in PDF format by 11/7 (5 pts)
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
ANSWER
COVID-19 global effects on human behavior for years to come.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly infectious and mutating virus hitting some continents harder than others. So far, there is no cure, or any vaccine developed, although research is still ongoing. The government established restrictions on movement and travel, work, daily interactions, and communications. These unexpected changes in people's lives resulted in anxiety, fear of the unknown, panic (panic buying of essentials), anger, stress, and mental trauma (Ling 2020:312). Many businesses closed indefinitely; new routines, pay cuts, and lockdowns have affected people's capability to provide for their family's well-being. Most people are relying on aid to survive. People will feel the effects of COVID-19 on human behavior for years to come in regards to; the social, economic, political, and psychological perspective of life on; how people live, how and where they work, how they interact and move around from place to place and the question of what is essential in this life.
CHANGES FROM PRE-PANDEMIC TIME
In the pre-pandemic times, people were living life naturally. Both self-employed and employed people never thought of any uncertainty by observing their spending and saving habits. From my observation, people are more vigilant now on building an emergency fund, having multiple revenue streams, governments, and organizations reviewing ways to work remotely and virtual means to ensure that the economy is running (Lawrence 2020:3). Many businesses embraced social media strategies like marketing, cashless payment methods, and door to door deliveries to ensure low infection levels.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing has brought new ways of working (like working from home), encouraged door-to-door deliveries of the items, and increased online businesses avoiding taking unnecessary travels and risks of infection. Social distancing is the art of physically staying away from other people in a given meter of space, which has proven to be one of the most effective tools in flattening the curve. Transmission of COVID 19 is through contact with infected individuals or touching contaminated surfaces (Weill et al. 2020:1). People were skeptical, but now governments can enforce these measures. Schools are coming up with new methods of providing a better learning environment and virtual learning where necessary. Parents working from home are now getting used to the pressure and coming up with creative ways of coexisting in the same environment's evaluating their priorities, needs, and wants. Although physical distancing is new to humans' way of life, we shall observe for a while until everyone is comfortable with each other again long after the pandemic is over.
HAWTHORNE EFFECT
Hawthorne effect is when people change their behavior when being watched or observed (Oswald et al. 2014:53). During my research, I mingled observing and asked the relevant questions. They were more comfortable as they gave their perspective and shared their experiences. I gathered a lot of information on how COVID-19 has affected their lives, families, and workplaces. Everyone had something to say. Sharing my own experiences helped in avoiding the Hawthorne effect.
INTERACTION PERSPECTIVE
Social distancing has caused a diversion on how humans interact face to face to a more virtual business through digital space, keep their families safe without spreading or catching the virus. The interaction perspective explains how society and its individuals are continually changing in a more dynamic phenomenon. This perspective looks into self-interactions and how individuals interact with the community and interact with objects in their surrounding environment (Kuwabara & Yamaguchi, 2007:115). Although people adapt to the new regular, anxiety, and uncertainty, the future is still a concern. Human beings are generally social beings who are in constant interactions and communication with one another. However, the need to interact, work in the typical office setting, meet up for coffee with friends, social gatherings like weddings, and the feeling of missing out, going to places of worship is still a concern, and the question everyone is asking is, when will this be over?
Importance of Interaction Perspective
Self-interactions have increased, focusing more on health, safety, and observing actions indicating a global change in societal behavior and norms when faced with a tragedy. This perspective brings about a dynamic social process and an overview of how people continue to interact with one another at work, business, and governments. People are more than ever law-abiding to strict government measures on COVID-19. Businesses' virtual work environments clearly show symbolic interactions of digital media and people. Governments are now planning on the new standard changes in opening up schools, economy, and travel without fear of infection or transmission. (Lawrence, 2020:4). COVID-19 impact on human behavior is a global challenge, proving that societal transformation is possible over time.
HYPOTHESIS ON CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS
The causal relationship hypothesis is where observations and outcomes lead to a cause and effect (Neziek 2001:388). If COVID-19 were not a global challenge, then people would be living their lives as usual. If governments do not take measures moving forward concerning movement, the opening of schools, and the economy as a whole, COVID-19 will still be a battle for some years. If there is no cure or vaccine soon, there is no telling how many people will die. The fear of the unknown is coherent in how people continue to behave worldwide as we move to a new future.
Importance of Observation of the Hypothesis
So far, many deaths have been reported globally since the outbreak of COVID-19. Variables mentioned above regarding lockdown, social distancing, working from home, and coming up with solutions will help countries move past this wave of the virus. Scientists and health works are continually looking for a cure or vaccine. Nevertheless, none of them is closer people. Therefore they have to remain vigilant to curb and reduce infections. Staying healthy is everyone's dream and keeping each other safe is everyone's goal. Hypothesis keeps changing, but we hope for a better tomorrow, nonetheless.
QUESTIONNAIRES AS QUANTITATIVE METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
The quantitative research method gives us more details on the effects of COVID-19 globally. Therefore, questionaries are most preferred, digitally where many of the population can participate, and information received help in better decision-making. Questionaries are both open-ended and closed-ended; translations to diverse languages is possible globally. This research method will enable governments and individuals to stay in the loop as we embrace the new normal.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19 is here with us worldwide for years to affect human behavior socially, economically, politically, physically, mentally, and psychologically. How people live, how and where they work, how they interact and move around from place to place is a perspective we cannot escape. This pandemic is a passing wave in humans' history, and it will live long in our minds and hearts as we remember those we have lost, what we have had to change to adapt to the new normal, and even our view of life. What is today can change in a second. The question of what is essential in this life remains. The new normal is inevitable, as change is inevitable.
References .......
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