South 고등학교 3학년 Social Issues Inquiry
Chapters: 6
1. Understanding social problems
What social problems are · Scientific inquiry · Ethics in inquiry · Statistical surveys
- Social Problems: What They Are and How We Solve Them – A social problem is a condition that harms many people, that many people agree is harmful, that has causes in how society is organised, and that people can change by acting together. Unemployment, pollution, phone overuse among teenagers and an ageing population are examples. Sociologists look at them through different perspectives, investigate them with evidence, trace causes and effects, and test solutions.
- Sociological Research Methods – Sociologists study society by doing research, step by step: choose a topic, write an aim or hypothesis, run a small pilot study, choose a sample, collect data, analyse it and draw conclusions. A sample is a small group picked from the whole population; it should be representative so the results can be generalised. Quantitative data are numbers (from questionnaires, structured interviews, official statistics); qualitative data are words and meanings (from unstructured interviews, observation, documents). Primary data are collected by the researcher; secondary data already exist. Good research is reliable (repeatable), valid (a true picture) and representative. Researchers choose methods based on practical issues (time, cost, access), ethical issues (consent, confidentiality, harm, deception) and theory: positivists prefer scientific, numerical methods, while interpretivists prefer methods that capture people's meanings.
- Research Ethics: Doing Research the Right Way – Research ethics are the rules that keep research fair and safe. Five big rules: do no harm, get informed consent, protect privacy, be honest with data, and give credit to every source. Good research needs both a good method and good behaviour.
2. Gaming overuse
Information society · Peer-group observation · Causes of gaming overuse · Solutions
- Digital Society: How Information Technology Changes Our Lives – A digital society (also called an information society) is a society where making, sharing and using information with computers and networks is a main part of life, work and government. Information moves fast, reaches everywhere and can be copied at almost no cost. Software has changed shopping, banking, health, school and friendship. New jobs appear (app developer, data analyst) while some old jobs shrink. Every online action leaves data, so privacy matters. Not everyone is connected (the digital divide), and too much screen time or gaming can harm health. A good digital citizen uses the benefits and manages the risks.
- Sociological Research Methods – Sociologists study society by doing research, step by step: choose a topic, write an aim or hypothesis, run a small pilot study, choose a sample, collect data, analyse it and draw conclusions. A sample is a small group picked from the whole population; it should be representative so the results can be generalised. Quantitative data are numbers (from questionnaires, structured interviews, official statistics); qualitative data are words and meanings (from unstructured interviews, observation, documents). Primary data are collected by the researcher; secondary data already exist. Good research is reliable (repeatable), valid (a true picture) and representative. Researchers choose methods based on practical issues (time, cost, access), ethical issues (consent, confidentiality, harm, deception) and theory: positivists prefer scientific, numerical methods, while interpretivists prefer methods that capture people's meanings.
- Addiction: How It Starts and How to Stay Free – Addiction is losing control over a substance or a behaviour, even when it causes harm. It can be to substances (tobacco, alcohol, drugs, misused medicines) or to behaviours (gaming, gambling, social media). Each use gives the brain a burst of dopamine, which teaches it to repeat the action; with time tolerance grows and you need more. Warning signs are craving, loss of control, compulsion and carrying on despite harm. Protection comes from refusal skills, healthy rewards, sleep and routine, and asking for help early. Addiction is treatable.
- Digital Footprints and Netiquette – A digital footprint is the trail of data we leave online. Active footprints are shared on purpose (posts, comments, forms); passive footprints are collected without us noticing (cookies, browsing history, location, IP address). Footprints are hard to erase and can be seen by others later. We live in a digital society where learning, banking, shopping and government services are online; a responsible user of it is a digital citizen (netizen). Net etiquette means being ethical (respect copyright, share reliable information), respectful (privacy, diversity, no bullying) and responsible (avoid oversharing, don't feed trolls). Communication etiquette asks us to be precise, polite and credible; social media etiquette asks us to choose passwords and privacy settings wisely, think before uploading, and verify before sharing.
3. School violence
Literature research · Violence in school communities · Explaining causes · Institutional responses
- Sociological Research Methods – Sociologists study society by doing research, step by step: choose a topic, write an aim or hypothesis, run a small pilot study, choose a sample, collect data, analyse it and draw conclusions. A sample is a small group picked from the whole population; it should be representative so the results can be generalised. Quantitative data are numbers (from questionnaires, structured interviews, official statistics); qualitative data are words and meanings (from unstructured interviews, observation, documents). Primary data are collected by the researcher; secondary data already exist. Good research is reliable (repeatable), valid (a true picture) and representative. Researchers choose methods based on practical issues (time, cost, access), ethical issues (consent, confidentiality, harm, deception) and theory: positivists prefer scientific, numerical methods, while interpretivists prefer methods that capture people's meanings.
- Safety Education: Staying Safe at Home, on the Road and with People – Safety means spotting hazards early and acting before harm happens. Risk = likelihood × harm. Keep exits clear and use stairs in a fire, follow traffic rules and wear a helmet or seat belt, wash hands and use medicine correctly, and in any unsafe situation with a person: say NO, GO away and TELL a trusted adult.
- Deviance and Social Control – Deviance is behaviour that breaks the norms a group expects. Social norms come from custom; legal norms are laws, and breaking them is crime or delinquency. Deviance is relative: it changes between groups and over time. Societies keep order through informal and formal social control, using positive and negative sanctions. Theories explain deviance through strain, learning in groups, weak social bonds and labelling, which can lead to stigma and a deviant career. Official crime figures miss a large 'dark figure' of unreported crime.
4. Low birth rate and ageing
Social meaning of birth and death · Korea's population statistics · Causes · Social responses
- Population Ageing – Population ageing means older people form a growing share of a population. It has two drivers: fewer births (total fertility rate below about 2.1) and longer lives. Fewer workers per older person strains pensions, health care and the labour supply, while schools need fewer places. Societies respond with support for families, later and flexible retirement, pension and care reforms, technology, lifelong learning and sometimes immigration.
- The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth – People are not spread evenly on Earth. Most live on fertile plains near water; few live in deserts, high mountains or icy lands. Density tells how many people live on each square km. Geographical, economic and social factors explain the pattern. The world grew slowly for thousands of years and then very fast after 1800. Population changes through births, deaths and migration. The demographic transition theory shows how birth and death rates fall as a society moves from rural farming to urban industry. Countries use family planning and health care to control growth.
5. Discrimination against minorities
Minorities and discrimination · Global minority issues · Prejudice · Protecting rights
- Income Inequality – Income inequality means income is shared unevenly between people. Economists rank people from poorest to richest, split them into five groups of 20% (quintiles) and compare their shares. The Lorenz curve plots the cumulative share of income against the cumulative share of people; the further it bends from the straight line of equality, the more unequal the society. The Gini coefficient = A ÷ (A + B) turns this into one number between 0 (perfect equality) and 1 (one person has everything). Wealth (what you own) is usually more unequal than income (what you earn). Causes include differences in skills, education, inherited wealth, discrimination and technology. Governments reduce inequality with progressive taxes, benefits, minimum wages and public services such as free schooling and health care.
- Human Rights: Meaning, History, Types and Protection – Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that belong to every person because they are human. They are universal, inalienable, indivisible and rooted in dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) set a common standard, later made binding through treaties. Rights are protected by constitutions, courts, commissions, the UN and civil society, and they can be limited only by fair laws that protect others.
- Social Psychology: How Other People Shape Us – Social psychology studies how other people change our thoughts, feelings and actions. Behaviour depends on both the person and the situation. In groups we often conform to the majority or obey authority. Stereotypes (thoughts), prejudice (feelings) and discrimination (actions) harm groups. When many people watch, each feels less responsible to help. Competition breeds conflict, while shared goals build cooperation.
6. Case study
Choosing a problem · Researching solutions · Different viewpoints · Presenting solutions
- Sociological Research Methods – Sociologists study society by doing research, step by step: choose a topic, write an aim or hypothesis, run a small pilot study, choose a sample, collect data, analyse it and draw conclusions. A sample is a small group picked from the whole population; it should be representative so the results can be generalised. Quantitative data are numbers (from questionnaires, structured interviews, official statistics); qualitative data are words and meanings (from unstructured interviews, observation, documents). Primary data are collected by the researcher; secondary data already exist. Good research is reliable (repeatable), valid (a true picture) and representative. Researchers choose methods based on practical issues (time, cost, access), ethical issues (consent, confidentiality, harm, deception) and theory: positivists prefer scientific, numerical methods, while interpretivists prefer methods that capture people's meanings.
- Presentation Skills: Speaking to an Audience – A good presentation is planned for its audience and purpose, has a clear opening, body and closing, uses simple slides that support (not replace) the speaker, and is delivered with a clear voice, eye contact and good timing. Practice turns nerves into confidence.