sociology case study activity

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Social research methods activity 1, activity 1: making the case for sociological knowledge.

• Time frame: Approximately 15 - 30 Minutes
• Setting : Online or face-to-face
• Source : Chapter 1 (Learning Outcome 1.3) from  Social Research Methods: Sociology in Action , edited by: Kristin Kenneavy, Catherine E. Harnois, Maxine P. Atkinson, and Kathleen Odell Korgen
• Contributor(s): Kristin Kenneavy

Doing Sociology 1.3 Questioning News Sources

In this activity, you will critique the way in which social science research is described in a news media article. 

In 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, CNBC.com published an article titled “Science says pets can buffer stress, boost productivity and help keep you healthy while you WFH [work from home]” (Stieg, 2020). The article contends that pets help to reduce stress and bolster happiness and work productivity, stating: 

A 2012 study from Virginia Commonwealth University found that employees at a retail business who brought their dogs to work had higher job satisfaction than industry norms and had the lowest levels of stress ratings throughout the day. Of those dog owners who came to work with a dog, 50% said that having their pet present was important to their productivity. 

The research study to which the CNBC article refers, titled “Preliminary investigation of employee’s dog presence on stress and organizational perceptions” (Barker et al., 2012), compares the levels of stress, job satisfaction, and perceptions of the employer of three groups: one in which employees brought their dogs to work, a second in which employees did not bring their dogs to work, and another group of workers who didn’t have pets. The research article describes the results as follows: 

Combined groups scored significantly higher on multiple job satisfaction subscales than the reference norm group for these scales. No significant differences were found between the groups on physiological stress or perceived organizational support. Although perceived stress was similar at baseline; over the course of the day, stress declined for the DOG group with their dogs present and increased for the NODOG and NOPET groups. The NODOG group had significantly higher stress than the DOG group by the end of the day. A significant difference was found in the stress patterns for the DOG group on days their dogs were present and absent. On dog absent days, owners’ stress increased throughout the day, mirroring the pattern of the NODOG group. 

Think about the difference between the two descriptions of this research study. 

• Compare and contrast the titles of each piece. Does one suggest more certainty than the other? 
• How would you describe the tone of each piece? Which words or phrases convey the tone? 
• Consider the fact that the original study focused on a workplace of 450 people and the CNBC.com report is focused on the effects of dog ownership while people are working from home. Do you think that dogs have a similar effect on productivity in home and office settings? Why or why not? 
• The original study examines dog ownership, but the headline of the CNBC.com article speaks of “pets” more generally. Do you think that all pets have similar effects on stress and productivity? Why do you think the CNBC article uses the language of pets more broadly?

Learn more about the Sociology in Action Series:

Race and Ethnicity

Sociology in Action

Social Problems

Social Research Methods

• Making the Case for Sociological Knowledge
• Posing Questions, Crafting Explanations, and Communicating Results
• Surveying the Social Landscape
• Collecting What’s Already There: Content Analysis and some Related Methods
• New Titles and Best Sellers
• Vantage Courseware Offerings