Theoretical Perspectives and Methods of Social Research Chapter 2

By Dr. John Brenner

Mexico used as a focus

1,952 border with U. S. 2,800 Maquiladoras plants with 1 million workers
40% are U.S. owned Americans know little about the country Major source of cheap labor

Average workers in Mexico get $2.48 an hour

About 4,500 U.S. plants closed due to labor transfer Each country has benefits and losses

Mexico
Major trend is the transfer of labor-intensive manufacturing out of the U.S. to labor abundant countries Sociological theories and research will help us to understand the impact of the labor transfer
A theory is a set of principles and definitions that tell how societies operate Research is fact-gathering and fact-explaining

Theoretical Perspectives
Theory framework used to comprehend and explain events
Model used to explain something Also called a paradigm

Theories inspire research

Facts generated through research are meaningless without theory to interpret them

Theoretical Perspectives
The following theories will all look at the Maquiladora Program Each of the theories will present its own angle on a situation We will discuss three of them--functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interaction

Functionalist Theory
Define society as a system of interrelated parts that are

interdependent
Just like the human body has parts so does society The parts are family, government, economy, religion and education--found in all societies Each part effects the other parts of the system Theory was first discussed by Herbert Spencer

Functionalist Theory
People are socialized into the prevailing system Most are unaware of the functions of society Look for stability in the social system and how the parts work together (function) Seen as a conservative theory

Functionalist Theory
Herbert Gans states that poverty is functional
Someone to do the dirty work Take up the slack in times of social change Provide luxuries for the rich--maids, nanny, Guinea Pigs for new medicines and techniques Jobs for people to take care of them Purchase inferior products

Functionalist Theory-Critique
A conservative theory that defends the existing arrangements
Stating that oil spills increase employment Social stability is maintained while some suffer

What is a function?--automobiles
It was invented and then became functional Connects people and weakens social ties Harms the environment

Mertons Concepts
Four parts to functionalism Manifest function --stated or obvious function of something--the intended, expected or recognized function 4th of July celebrations- Marketing and public relations for city, family and friends meetings, and

unifies community through a shared experience

Maquiladoras--Functionalist
System was set up after World War II
Bracero Program to help employ Mexican workers during the war Increased economic ties between the countries Called the Border Industrialization Program (BIP)
To create jobs for returning Braceros Give U.S. companies access to low wage workers Fill jobs U.S. workers did not want And give more jobs in the Mexican border cities

Maquiladoras--Functionalist
Maquiladoras (mah-kee-la-doras)--manufacturing operations in Mexico
2,800 in Mexico 90% owned by U.S. or subsidiary company Some are joint U. S./Mexican companies Black and Decker, GTE, Kellogg, Singer, Ford, General Motors, Xerox and Westinghouse

Maquiladoras--Functionalist
Program works this way:
Foreign companies ship tools, machinery, parts to Mexico (no tariff) Workers finish products and ship them back Only a charge on the cost of the workers wages Mexican workers do labor-intensive work

Mertons Concepts
Latent function -unintended, unrecognized, unanticipated and unpredicted
The links between the two nations are obvious 5 million per month people cross San Diego-Tijuana daily Busiest land-border crossings in the world The cities on the borders increase

Mertons Concepts
Manifest dysfunctions --expected or anticipated disruptions
Job displacements in U.S. Lack of entry level jobs esp. in rural areas

Latent dysfunctions --unintended, unanticipated negative disruptions

Low wages on both sides of the borders

 Rapid and unregulated growth of populations

Maquiladoras--Functionalist
Latent Dysfunction--(unexpected-hidden) problems in one country effects the other, financial crises in Mexico hurt American retail industry on the US side Less Americans get white collar jobs in Mexico as Mexicans gain higher qualifications

Maquiladoras--Functionalist
Latent dsyfunction--rapid population growth on both sides of the border which has generated large numbers of people living in substandard housing (Colonias) Health-threatening pollution to both countries Loss of American jobs have destroyed small towns in the U.S.

Conflict Theory
Feels conflict is an inevitable part of life Look at the role of competition in conflict Those who own the means of production use their resources to protect their interests Influenced by Karl Marx Wants to know Who benefits? from the system

Conflict Theory
Bourgeoisie --own the means of production (land, machinery, buildings and technology) and purchase labor
Want to expand markets and increase profit Want cheapest labor and raw materials

Proletariat -workers who own their labor, are treated like machines by owners, have low skills and are dependent

Conflict Theory
Faade of legitimacy --explanations used by dominant groups to justify their actions
Workers are free to work anywhere when they have no money (capital) so they have to work Employers can fire and lay off workers Blame the victim--poor get blamed for poverty

 Emphasize less successful benefit from the system (better off here than in Mexico)

Conflict Theory--Critique
Overemphasizes the tensions and divisions between the top and bottom of society Ignores real contributions of industrialization Owners do not always ignore workers Watchdog and grass route groups are created to watch the actions of the bourgeoisie

Conflict Theory
Represents a need for profit, Mexican workers sell their labor at low cost, jobs are insecure Faade of legitimacy says that it benefits both US and Mexico but it really exploits the Mexicans who are vulnerable, when Mexican economy falters US investment increases as labor costs decrease

Conflict Theory
Maquila jobs are insecure, lack of advancement and low wages Jobs are mind-numbing and repetitive US banks make money off of Mexican loans In the US owners can threaten to move to Mexico to keep workers in line

Conflict Theory
Maquila exploit the environment--only about 1/3 of Mexican laws comply
Hazardous waste is not disposed of properly Companies can pull out over night in Mexico

Conflict theorists want to know who benefits from the program

The owners of production, or capitalists benefit from the Maquila system.

Symbolic Interaction
How do people define reality through interaction with each other George Herbert Mead, Charles Horton Cooley and Herbert Blumer
Concerned with how the self develops, how people attach meanings to things, and how the meanings change through time and interaction

Symbolic Interaction
Symbol --any kind of physical phenomenon to which people assign a name, meaning or value Symbolic interaction --people use those symbols to communicate and interact with each other
People decide what things will mean Society shares a symbol system

Symbolic Interaction
Interpretation of symbols requires an active processthe purpose of a wedding ring has meaning beyond the actual ring They advocate a down to earth research approach Study human interaction first-hand by immersing one in the social world

Symbolic Interaction--Critique
Want to know about the origins of symbols, the way the meaning persists, and the situations where people question them
First hand and extensive knowledge of the social world Can influence those being observed Ignores social factsthings outside the individual

Can not predict any changes or how meanings actually change Can not account for the social structures and processes larger than the individual

Symbolic Interaction--Maquiladoras Program

Look at how people on different sides of the border have different meanings Friday the 13th is unlucky in the US while Wednesday the 13th is unlucky in Mexico Americans may stereotype Asians as hard working and Mexicans as unambitious and lazy who are taking siestas under a sombrero

Symbolic Interaction--Maquiladoras Program

Focus on the interactions among the employees of same and different rank American expatriates rarely have experiences with other cultures and seem ignorant of basic Spanish phrases Culture clashes are quite common

Research Methods Step 1-Defining the Topic

Means the researcher picks a topic Explains why the topic is significant Clarifies the importance of the topic Explains the motivation of the study May pick a topic due to personal interest, current issues, or because grant money is available

Step 2-Reviewing the Literature

Researcher reads all the published work on the topic Finds where there is a missing gap in the previous research studies Sociologists read sociological journals and books on the topic The researcher must consider the works of other thinkers and how the research verifies, advances and corrects other research

Step 3Core Concepts/Hypothesis

Conceptsgeneral ideas about people, places and things (like family) Good sociological research begins with the researcher defining the topics of the study Readers know exactly what the author means by family, group, social interaction and so on

Step 4-Research Design and Collecting Data

Design is a plan for gathering data Methods of collecting data on populations
Tracessmall situations that give data Documentswritten items Territoriessettings with borders Householdsfamily size Small groupsfriends, teams or gangs

Step 4-Research Design and Collecting Data

Populationthe total number of whatever that is going to be studied Random sample is a portion of the total populationall have an equal chance A sample is a portion of the population Representativesample looks like total Sampling framecomplete list of population usually not possible

Step 4-Research Design and Collecting Data

Methods of data collection
Self-administered questionnaire Interviewsface-to-face or phone
Structuredwording set in advance Unstructuredflexible and open-ended

Step 4-Research Design and Collecting Data

Observationslistening and recording of information on people
Nonparticipantdetached observations Participantjoining the group

Hawthorne Effectaltering behavior if they know they are being watched Secondary sourcesdata collected for one reason used for anothercensus, birth, death records, movies, graffiti, etc

Step 4-Research Design and Collecting Data

Variable-trait that consists of more than one category
Dependent-behavior to be explained Independent-variable that explains or predicts

Operational Definitionsclear and precise definitions of how to measure and observe the variables to be studied
Allows researchers to duplicate others work Reliabilityconsistent results Validitymeasures what it claims to measure

Analyzing Data
After getting the information researcher has to determine what it is saying May use graphs, frequency tables, photographs, statistical data charts, and other visual displays of the information

Drawing Conclusions
Generalizabilityusing research to make general statements about people and society
How does information apply to larger population 3 conditions must be present to explain that the independent variable contributes significantly to the dependent variable

Drawing Conclusions
3 conditions
1. independent variable must precede dependent 2. two variables are correlated (from 0-9positive to negative)
Correlation shows the mathematical relationship of change in one and the other Spurious correlationaccidental or coincidental

3. No other variables influenced results

Conclusion
All three theories offer a different perspective on the same issue No single perspective gives a complete picture of the Maquiladora Program All three perspectives make a contribution to our total understanding of an issue Research helps understand the process