Using a Research Team and Microcomputers to Teach Basic Sociological Principles

This paper illustrates one way in which a small research team can use microcomputers to learn sociological methods as part of a large introductory sociology course. Data from the research team can be used to teach a number of basic sociological principles to the larger class. In addition to beginning the process of integrating microcomputers into the classroom, this approach provides a strong empirical base for the instruction of sociology, provides students with skills as well as facts and ideas, and increases the relevance of introductory sociology by developing student-generated examples of sociological concepts. While the example in the paper is drawn from the experience of a mass class, the same principles can be applied using a sociology methods class as the research team.