Essay Summary of Introduction to Social Sciences

Topic of study - Sociologist and Psychologist

"Do people from deferent background Influence they choice of school they go to? " This topic Is derived from the article, which states: "What we are seeing Is that the students who are going to some of the more brand-name schools, they're all coming from a certain background... Expanded financial help for students who are keen to enter top independent schools but are put off for fear they cannot afford it or fit in. This might be of interest to both sociologist and psychologist, looking at the activities/ behavior of small groups at ground level, both will then examine whether what is mound on small scale applies on large scale.

1. 1 Sociologist Approach

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For sociologist, the question they might ask could be: "How did this social idea comes about? ' Sociologists study the social norms and values, and also social processes like formation of power and status relationship. In this case, they may be interested to find out how come most students that are enrolled In elite schools are from better background.

The social function for hilling practice might derive from schooling. It might be believed that students that graduated from an elite school have higher neighborhood school. This would then drive the parents who have adequate financial ability to enroll their children into a better school so that their child may have a better chance of getting employed in the future. As a result, students from better background will end up in top independent school as their parents can afford to put them through the education.

1. 2 Psychologist Approach

As for psychologist, they may ask: "How do groups influence human behavior? They are interested in how it will develop one's belief system. In this case, it is said that students from better background are enrolled in top schools. That being said, what ill happen if a student from normal background were to be awarded with study grant to be enrolled in the elite school? If students from top schools are mostly from better background, they will start thinking that because they come from better background, they are entitled to go into this school. Consequently, will a student from normal background choose to enroll into the elite school, if given study grant?

There could be fear of being ostracizes and not being able to fit in due to the differences. While both disciplines are concerned on the same topic, the emphasis on sociology is the individual in interaction with others. On the other hand, psychology focuses on the individual, which explains human behavior.

2. Topic of study - Political Scientist and Economist

"How effective is introducing niche program able to accommodate multiple pathway of success? " This might be of interest to both political scientist and economist as it both consists of decision making.

The topic is derived from the article that mentioned: "... Opportunity arises because we have been committed to this philosophy of many alternative ways of success. "

2. 1 Political Scientist Approach

For political scientist, they study on who gets what, when and how. In short, they decide how the society should operate. They analyses the forms the institution takes and the process that emerge. Political scientists look at how the policy introduced will impact the situation. In this topic, the policy is introduced and time is taken to find out how effective is the proposed policy.

2. 2 Economist Approach

For an economist, usually it decides on how to allocate scarce resources, deciding what to produce, how and for whom. In this case, they will be interested to know if the policy introduced will affect the labor market. With the program introduced, will it eve any significant impact on how the distribution, production, and consumption of might be an increase in new businesses emerging from graduates since the school they attended focuses on personal interest and competencies, rather than academic standing of school.

On the other hand, there is also a concern whether Singapore will have enough Jobs to support the increase in graduates. 3. Social Science Discipline, Chosen Topic of Study and Hypothesis The social science discipline chosen to discuss in this essay will be sociology and the selected above topic: "Do people from different background influence they choice of school they go to? "

3. 1 Hypothesis

With this topic, the hypothesis formed is: "Having a better background can influence the student's choice of selecting top school".

3. Variables

They key variables are "better background", "type of students" and "choice of top school" Independent variable, which can be changed during the study, is "Background". Different type of background can be chosen to study anytime. Background is chosen as it can affect the type of school a student enrolls into. Having a better background means student can afford to study in independent school. Dependent variable, which would be measured and counted in the study is "Choice of top school". Choice of top school means the results of what the student chosen.

Will a student from better background choose to enroll into a normal school because of the extra-curriculum offered or will the student choose a top independent school because he/she knows that they can afford it? This is the variable that is observed during the study. Controlled variable, which is not changed throughout the study, is "type of students". The same type of students (graduating students who is at the stage of choosing their schools) is used for this study. It will not be fair if the students used are of different age group as they may have different maturity level in their way of thinking.

Choosing the same age group of graduating students to study on the choice of school chosen to enrolled into will be the most desirable.

4. Developing Research Design

This is the stage after hypothesis is formed. Decisions must be made about how best to obtain the data through research methods. By personalizing variables, questioned are asked to covert them into a form which is measurable or testable. In this topic, we are discussing about: "Having a better background can influence the student's choice of school".

Do student has siblings or friends in the school they are enrolled in? - This is to measure if the choice is affected by other factors such as peers. How many students enrolled in top independent schools come from better background? -This is to measure the past and existing patterns, whether the social structure is built in a way that it influences them to choose the school because 'it's the way.

4. 2 Research Methods

To test and bolster hypothesis formed, there will be research carried out and the 2 hat will be discussed here will be Survey and Secondary Data Research.

4. 1 Survey Research

This method is used for establishing facts and subjects of research will be a statistically valid sample of a population. A series of questions will be asked to collect the data needed. Questionnaires will be designed in a way that does not lead the subject. No. Question What is the top factor in mind when choosing a school? (a) Affordability (c)Friends/siblings state: 2. (b) Vicinity (d) Rank of school Others, please If given a choice to enroll in any school, will an elite school be your choice? (a) Yes (b) No For both answers, please explain why:

3. Do you think it is important to be in a school you feel socially accepted? (a) Yes Once these questions are designed, the next step is to survey the sample population. This survey can only be used at the point of time when the student is preparing to enroll

4. 2. 2 Secondary Data Research

This method of research gathers relevant information on one's research topic. One will be able to discover what other researchers have written related to that topic and what research methods they have used. It can also be used to obtain other research studies/methods backup or contradict one's findings.

As extracted from Ministry of Education Singapore Preliminary Replies, it shows that there is higher percentage of students from better background in top independent schools. With this backed up from a credible source, it supports the hypothesis that students from better background tend to be influenced and choose a top independent school.

5. Possible outcome of study

This study shows that there is a possibility of social gap between the rich and poor in Singapore. Due to the influence that because students that comes from better background are choosing to enroll in brand-name schools, they think they are entitled to enter this school.

This is a concern, as this social gap will also affect other factors such as the economic in Singapore. The income between rich and poor might widen, as the poor never got the chance to study in a good school for a better Job in the future. Policymaking is vital in Singapore as it maintain order in a country. It is a good effort to introduce niche program in schools and taking steps to tear down any walls that may reinforce elitism in Singapore. Definitely, there will not be instant results shown on how effect a policy is but people must be willing to accept and give it time to work.

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