The whole point of doing research on a certain group of people, or even a section of the population of a whole is to make distinctions. Who does something, who doesn't, who needs something and who has something. To make sense of anything we compare it to something else and this makes distinctions between the two or how ever many groups. This is how we learn about things.
I think distinctions are necessary for our community-based projects. Take for example the recycling project. We need to make know who is recycling and who is not. If they're not recycling then we know if it is because they don't want to/care to, or if they don't know how.
To study certain demograhpics, we NEED distinction in order to have parameters in which to focus our study. What sets the population that we want to study apart from the rest? Without parameters, everything would blend, and we'd be overwhelmed by the amount of information.
In the U.S., recyclables are any materials that can be re-used; clothing, glass, plastic, tin, paper, etc. If we get info out on how much can actually be re-used, and that it's not dirty, there'd be more recycling.
working to increase none redemption recycling we wil have to make distinctions between people who recycle and people who don't inorder to define the pop. we wish to influence. Within that pop. we will have to make distinctions between different reasons why people do not recycle in order to address the behaviors that we are hoping to modify. ex we will have to differentiate between people who don't recycle because there is no where convenient to do so and people who don't think recycling matters.
Distinguishing a particular population from the whole is something that is done in almost all research involving human studies. In the aging population study we will need to identify a criteria that distinguishes the elderly population from the rest of adults, as well as identifying what a caregiver is. Are children in the same category as nursing home staff as providers?
I really like Jens point on being homeless. If you really don't have a home, but you have a roof over your head eveynight, does that still make you homeless? In my eyes I would say no, but theres always that chance they could get kicked out and have no where to go. Then that would make them homeless. I think we need to be specific when it comes to our projects. Theres a bunch of information out there that can change our findings or influence them in some way.
I think the concept of distinctions will play a big role in our community based projects. Kristina has a good point on the elderly facor of the project. Who do we really consider being elderly? Is there a certain age when someone is considered elderly? I know of some people who get to live in an elderly home even though that are only in their 20's. Do we sill consider them part of the elderly community just because they can live in a place like that?
Distinctions will be important in the recycling project. Some people in Machias may not recycle something because they are not aware that it can be recycled. For instance, I live in East Machias and we don't have the recycling center in town like they do in Machias so I throw away metal cans like what soup comes in. My grandmother lives in the Machias area and she recycles her cans. Maybe not all residents know what can be recycled and would if they knew.
I think that we'll have to keep ourselves in check while working on our projects. If we create distinctions when perhaps there is no need to, we'll want to keep our focus.
When I write this, I think about the elderly in particular. What we consider "helpful" may not be to them. We can't put our own ideals and thoughts into things (essentially labeling the population with potential misconceptions).
I guess it's because I interpreted the text to mean that distinctions can be good and bad.
They can be helpful and harmful. Necessary and unnecessary. I think Babbie wanted us to take home that definitions are good if they HELP what you're trying to define.
Asocial tendencies (I'm trying to think up an example not used in the book) for example. Being asocial is something that has always existed, but now the term has meaning behind it. Beforehand maybe people would just say, "Oh, that's Jimmy. He likes to stay home more than not!" or "Jimmy's a loner, that's just who he is!"
Great comments. Yes, I'm looking for discussions on how we distinguish and define our populations under study, or as in the recycling case, what are recyclables? Many people think that if it's not a redemption item, then it must be trash. How do we distinguish recyclables to Machias residents in a meaningful way?
Also, distinction could effect who we include in our research. The way we distinguish homeless people from non-homeless people could effect results. If you don't consider someone who has a roof over their head as homeless then anyone who is bouncing between friends homes' wouldn't be included in the study. Am I making any sense?
You're making sense to me. I was thinking in terms of the homelessness distinction too. If a kid has some place (safe) to sleep every night, are they homeless? Will homeless be defined as a physical state or an emotional state? A combination of the two, etc.?
I also agree with you in that subjective thoughts (needs vs. wants) is a good thing to keep in check, too.
I think distinctions will play a role in our community-based projects in how we distinct wants from needs. What I mean by that is, how we separate needs from wants is subjective. For example, the needs assessment of the elderly and care givers; lets say the elderly see more bingo nights as a necessity, and we, as researchers, say to ourselves; that's not a need, it's a want. We have subjectively distinguished between need and want. The same could be said for the homeless project.
The whole point of doing research on a certain group of people, or even a section of the population of a whole is to make distinctions. Who does something, who doesn't, who needs something and who has something. To make sense of anything we compare it to something else and this makes distinctions between the two or how ever many groups. This is how we learn about things.
Mallory Johnson
mallorydawn03 2 years ago
I think distinctions are necessary for our community-based projects. Take for example the recycling project. We need to make know who is recycling and who is not. If they're not recycling then we know if it is because they don't want to/care to, or if they don't know how.
Tina Leighton
The1munchkin 2 years ago
To study certain demograhpics, we NEED distinction in order to have parameters in which to focus our study. What sets the population that we want to study apart from the rest? Without parameters, everything would blend, and we'd be overwhelmed by the amount of information.
In the U.S., recyclables are any materials that can be re-used; clothing, glass, plastic, tin, paper, etc. If we get info out on how much can actually be re-used, and that it's not dirty, there'd be more recycling.
Breaen
BreReid 2 years ago
From vince sorry
VinSad3 2 years ago
working to increase none redemption recycling we wil have to make distinctions between people who recycle and people who don't inorder to define the pop. we wish to influence. Within that pop. we will have to make distinctions between different reasons why people do not recycle in order to address the behaviors that we are hoping to modify. ex we will have to differentiate between people who don't recycle because there is no where convenient to do so and people who don't think recycling matters.
VinSad3 2 years ago
Distinguishing a particular population from the whole is something that is done in almost all research involving human studies. In the aging population study we will need to identify a criteria that distinguishes the elderly population from the rest of adults, as well as identifying what a caregiver is. Are children in the same category as nursing home staff as providers?
greeneyedfrog87 2 years ago
I really like Jens point on being homeless. If you really don't have a home, but you have a roof over your head eveynight, does that still make you homeless? In my eyes I would say no, but theres always that chance they could get kicked out and have no where to go. Then that would make them homeless. I think we need to be specific when it comes to our projects. Theres a bunch of information out there that can change our findings or influence them in some way.
Tammy Allen
tammymarie82708 2 years ago
I think the concept of distinctions will play a big role in our community based projects. Kristina has a good point on the elderly facor of the project. Who do we really consider being elderly? Is there a certain age when someone is considered elderly? I know of some people who get to live in an elderly home even though that are only in their 20's. Do we sill consider them part of the elderly community just because they can live in a place like that?
Tammy Allen
tammymarie82708 2 years ago
Distinctions will be important in the recycling project. Some people in Machias may not recycle something because they are not aware that it can be recycled. For instance, I live in East Machias and we don't have the recycling center in town like they do in Machias so I throw away metal cans like what soup comes in. My grandmother lives in the Machias area and she recycles her cans. Maybe not all residents know what can be recycled and would if they knew.
Marie
corgilover1001 2 years ago
I think that we'll have to keep ourselves in check while working on our projects. If we create distinctions when perhaps there is no need to, we'll want to keep our focus.
When I write this, I think about the elderly in particular. What we consider "helpful" may not be to them. We can't put our own ideals and thoughts into things (essentially labeling the population with potential misconceptions).
I guess it's because I interpreted the text to mean that distinctions can be good and bad.
Chibiusa98 2 years ago
They can be helpful and harmful. Necessary and unnecessary. I think Babbie wanted us to take home that definitions are good if they HELP what you're trying to define.
Asocial tendencies (I'm trying to think up an example not used in the book) for example. Being asocial is something that has always existed, but now the term has meaning behind it. Beforehand maybe people would just say, "Oh, that's Jimmy. He likes to stay home more than not!" or "Jimmy's a loner, that's just who he is!"
Chibiusa98 2 years ago
In terms of our projects, we should keep open-minded to the concerns of our community partners and then see if others might exist.
What defines "elderly care"? What defines "homelessness"? What defines the "good" behind recycling?
What defines "elderly"? Is there going to be distinction between age groups? Or "teen" homelessness. Are we going to distinct minors and legal adults?
I'm not sure if this is where you wanted us to go with the question or not.
-Kristina
Chibiusa98 2 years ago
Great comments. Yes, I'm looking for discussions on how we distinguish and define our populations under study, or as in the recycling case, what are recyclables? Many people think that if it's not a redemption item, then it must be trash. How do we distinguish recyclables to Machias residents in a meaningful way?
lathearn 2 years ago
Sorry, that last post is from...
Lisa
lathearn 2 years ago
Also, distinction could effect who we include in our research. The way we distinguish homeless people from non-homeless people could effect results. If you don't consider someone who has a roof over their head as homeless then anyone who is bouncing between friends homes' wouldn't be included in the study. Am I making any sense?
Jenn Law
jalaw146 2 years ago
You're making sense to me. I was thinking in terms of the homelessness distinction too. If a kid has some place (safe) to sleep every night, are they homeless? Will homeless be defined as a physical state or an emotional state? A combination of the two, etc.?
I also agree with you in that subjective thoughts (needs vs. wants) is a good thing to keep in check, too.
-Kristina
Chibiusa98 2 years ago
I think distinctions will play a role in our community-based projects in how we distinct wants from needs. What I mean by that is, how we separate needs from wants is subjective. For example, the needs assessment of the elderly and care givers; lets say the elderly see more bingo nights as a necessity, and we, as researchers, say to ourselves; that's not a need, it's a want. We have subjectively distinguished between need and want. The same could be said for the homeless project.
jalaw146 2 years ago