1. Approaches to Studying Families
HHS4C & HHS4U

2. Approaches to Studying Families
Discipline – a specific branch of learning such as math, physics, psychology
Theoretical Perspective – A certain way of looking at evidence based on key assumptions of a theory
Theory – a specific explanation of observable, factual, evidence. A theory is NOT a fact

3. Four Fundamental Questions Social Scientists Ask
What happens?
How does it happen?
Why does it happen?
How can we change what happens?
The 3 disciplines differ in the ways they approach these questions.

4. Anthropology
Studies human behaviour in society through the study of culture
Uses participant observation – participating in a society to make qualitative observations about the culture/behaviours, etc.
There is focus on diversity to overcome ethnocentrism – the tendency to evaluate behaviour from the point of view of your own culture
Colin Turnbull – initiation rites of Mbuti boys
Margaret Mead – gender roles in different cultures

5. Sociology
Explains the behaviour of individuals in social groups, families, and society
Uses survey research, both qualitative and quantitative
Studies demographics of the population
Reginald Bibby – adolescent youth in Canada

6. Psychology Study of individual behaviour based on mental processes
Use controlled experiments and survey research, mostly quantitative and some qualitative
Jean Piaget – cognitive development of youth.
Albert Bandura – observational learning

7. Family Studies
Family studies is an INTERDISCIPLINARY study that integrates anthropology, sociology and psychology
APPLYING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED:
Select a topic that interests you about families in Canada.
What would an anthropologist ask about the topic?
What would a sociologist ask?
What would a psychologist ask?