Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-19-2021
Abstract
We present a two-assignment series that developed students’ sociological imaginations and that could be done in a face-to-face or online course. The series used the Sociological Images blog and students’ own visual images (e.g., photographs) to meet course learning goals: (1) link sociological theories and concepts to social events/trends, (2) apply these ideas to real life by identifying sociologically relevant images in daily life, and (3) communicate sociological analysis in academic and popular written forms. The use of a blog encourages students to embrace public sociology. We present faculty and student assessment data (pretest from nonequivalent comparisons group) from six lower division sociology classes at a regional university (N = 157). Students entered with little a priori ability to examine images using a sociological lens, and students who completed the series successfully applied sociological concepts and theories to critically examine elements of their lives, achieving core sociology disciplinary learning goals.
Recommended Citation
Bostean, Georgiana, and Lisa Leitz. 2021. “Using Sociological Images to Develop the Sociological Imagination.” Teaching Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X211054572
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
The authors
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Other Sociology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Teaching Sociology in 2021 following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X211054572.