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VII. Deviance and Conformity
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Exploring Data
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Activities Inventory Exercise
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Theme
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DescriptionThis exercise consists of a survey for the students to complete on their own deviant behaviors, reporting the results of the survey, and more general discussion about the social meaning of deviant behavior.
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Learning GoalsThe purpose of this exercise is to help students understand the central sociological features of deviance. These include that deviance is socially defined, and that what is considered deviant varies by time, place, and social group. This may be hard for students to understand, but this exercise should help to illustrate these aspects of deviance.Back to top
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Things NeededA printed copy of the survey for each student, and student volunteers to tabulate the results.Back to top
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ActionsIt is recommended that the questionnaire be administered early in the course before students begin readings on deviance or criminal behavior to prevent responses from bieng influenced by the material in the text. The distribution of the questionnaire could be in conjunction with a lecture on research methodology. Before handing out the survey, it is important to emphasize to students that the validity of the results depends on accurate and honest answers. In large classes it has proven useful to remind students that the questionnaire is an individual effort and to respect he privacy of those around them. To provide a little privacy in large classes, as the questionnaire is handed out, students should be instructed to fold the form vertically so that their answers are shielded from others. One way to decrease the amount of under reporting of behavior is to give students examples on some of the questionnaire items. For example, "stolen items worth $2 to $50" includes taking money from parents' dresser drawers without permission and taking salt and peper shakers from restaurants or towels from hotel rooms. Several demographic variables may be included. Students are often interested in variations in responses; in particular, differences between males and females.
Tabulation Results Student volunteers from the class may be recruited to meet with the instructor to tally results. With the aid of two to six students, depending on class size, the results may be tabulated in about 30 minutes to an hour. The frequencies are recorded on blank questionnaires. Percentage results can be calculated easily from these data. Results may be written on the board. In general, students are very interested in finding out "how deviant" the class is. Persenting the results stimulates the students' interest in research methodology and makes them more sensitive to issues raised in the instructor's lecture on devinace and crime.
Applicaitons It may be useful to refer to the findings of the survey in discussions of deviance and crime as well as gender-role socialization over the life cycle.
Questions for Discussion Are all the items on the questionnaire considered deviant by all people? Which ones are criminal acts? Are they crimes committed by some people but not by others? How does this exercise illustrate that deviance is relative? If others knew of your activities, would they be likely to label your behavior deviant or criminal? Why or why not? -
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Creator/SourceEleen A. Baumann, Richard G. Mitchell, Jr., and Caroline Hodges Persell, Encountering Society: Student Resource Manual and Instructor’s Manual to accompany Persell, Caroline Hodges. 1987. Understanding Society. Second Edition. New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishing, Inc.