What are some tools used by Sociologist's to measure prejudice?

Question

Do you think they are accurate?

Answer 1

One of the earliest tools for measuring prejudice was developed by Emory Bogardus in 1925. He had people respond to a seven-point scale, indicating how closely they would interact with someone from a different ethnic or racial group.

The "Social Distance Scale" ranged from "marrying a close kin" to "should be excluded from my country." Nowadays, whenever a sociologist uses a similar scale (ex. "Strongly Approve" to "Strongly Disapprove") it is referred to as a Bogardus Scale.

However, in 1934, LaPiere demonstrated that people don't always "act" as one would think based on their responses.

After WWII, Adorno and his associates produced "The Authoritarian Personality" which contained assumptions about predudice based on four scales. The ones that particularly focused on prejudice were the E-Scale (ethnocentrism) and the A-S Scale (anti-semitism). The other scales were used to try to pinpoint correlates, like the E-C Scale (economic conservativism).

In the 1970's and 1980's, Antonovsky tried to detrermine prejudice from a test that used derogatory labels (like "wop" or "n....r"). Using statistical methods, he was able to show a slight positive correlation between people who had little reaction to the use of such words and the degree of their prejudice.

The modern classic by Gordon Allport, "The Nature of Prejudice," relied on several different scales, but the problem is that, in the 21st Century, people are not as naive about such testing. In other words, they've learned how to answer questions and appear to be unbiased.

Consequently, most modern researchers tend to seek explanations of WHY people are prejudiced, rather than testing for HOW severely people are biased.

Edna Bonacich, for example, documents a "Labor Theory of Ethnic Antagonism," which postulates that in a mixed labor market, those who exploit others tend to be the most prejudiced.

Still, standard tests (like the MMPI) have sections that are directly tied to prejudiced attitudes. The problems with Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory, however, are the same as those with the 80-year-old Bogardus Scale; they depend on pencil and paper responses.

Answer 2

Sociologists use a number of ways to measure prejudice . The best way is observation . we see prejudice all the time . Someone is inevetabaly the "underdog " . So sociologists Observe .. Another way to measure this stuff is by asking questions of certain groups of people . Of course no one wants to be labled prejudice so a good researcher will compose a set of questions on a piece of paper give that paper to the target subject and have him or her answer the question without their name on the paper to protect their confidentiality . Strange , but maybe a random telephone survey ... I think we as humans are all prejudice against anyone who may pose a threat to us or our community . And then you can just ask the person , then you are wondering if they may be a liar for telling you they are not prejudice ..

Answer 3

Measuring Prejudice

Answer 4

I am in social research. If you were to research any social phenomenon, one way of doing it is by personal interview. The first step is to design a set of questions. there is a fund of standardized questions from which social scientists can choose.

The next step is to obtain a cross sample of the population you wish to learn about. This is done mathematically by computer. In simple terms, it's like putting all the names in a hopper and picking them out by random. I do not know the exact percentage needed to keep the survey valid.

Each person chosen is contacted and interviewed. The professional interviewer has gone through intensive study-specific training and Research Protocol training. After each respondent is interviewed. the data is studied by the scientists. Mostly all human variables are considered and the results accurately represent the entire population even though only a sample was interviewed.

I hope this is clear,

Answer 5

I'm sorry dear, but your question requires a subject, delimiting factors such as gender, age, color, nationality, ethnicity, and a functional variable, i.e. social environment.

I suggest that you rethink your question thoroughly, most especially, define your objective.

Accuracy is dependent on the population defined, your sample size, the mathematical model applied, the quality of questions asked and the honesty of responses. Yes, there are lots of test models you could choose from, usually found in libraries (or you could try searching the web), but their accuracy is only as good as their scope and delimitation. All published tests are presumed to be accurate as they would have not performed it without the study requisites and therefore applied the apporpriate mathematical tool. Unless your test environments are the same, and you went into the trouble of retesting according to your new definitions of social and individual behavior, you will never be able to judge on the accuracy of any work.

Answer 6

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Questions of this magnitude tend to awaken deep thoughts, as well as stir emotions. So, I will tell you that the greatest tool in the sociologist's arsenal are formatted questions and surveys. Both deal with demographics, as well as geographical statistics.

Answer 7

well its might be help by some sort of survey, to know about the society and their behaviors, no One can go by assumptions, until unless you know the exact figure and eliminate by statistical data,.,same way survey of census,..,.{^-*}

Answer 8

the census, they give it out every ten years