PAGE ONE
Title Page (10 pts)
Include your
Name
Student ID number
Discussion section
TAs Name
PAGE TWO
Abstract (10 pts)
An abstract is a brief statement (usually a paragraph or two) that is placed at the beginning of a paper. Its purpose is to briefly explain what the paper is about; thus, it lets the reader know what will be discussed (commonly so the reader can decide whether he wants to continue reading it). It also sets a frame of reference for the reader if he or she decides to continue.
For this assignment, you are simply setting a frame of reference for the reader.
Approximately 100 words
PAGE THREE and BEYOND [For each section, please begin a new page.]
Observation and Models (20 pts)
In this section simply insert what you are supposed to do for the second homework assignment. If what you did for that assignment is perfect, all you need do is include it here. If it is not perfect, you need to fix any problems that exist. Failure to do so will incur point penalties.
Findings and Results (15 pts)
This section is asking how you would interpret certain results.
What is the data that you would collect and how does it relate to your research question? In the previous section, you described critical experiments, but the description may have been somewhat vague. In this section, you are being asked precisely how you would do these experiments.
In the above section, you described critical experiments, and you described the data you would collect to do these experiments. You now need to describe how you would interpret the data. This should have been touched on in the above section. If what you did in the previous section was very complete, all you need to do is repeat it. For others it is another opportunity to get it complete. To remind you of what you need to do, lets revisit the example discussed in class: if you find that people respect lawyers more than professors, that will mean something different from finding that people respect professors more than lawyers.
For each model:
Describe what results you would need to find in order to support the model.
Describe what results would contradict or fail to support your model.
If the data failed to support your model, what other models might these data support?
References (15 Points)
Note: You are not being asked to write a literature review. This is a list of references. Because this is not a true, complete research paper, you may not have actually used any references. Thus, you need to find books, journal articles, electronic sources, etc. that are (at least slightly) related to what your paper is about. The purpose of this section of the assignment is correctly using APA format, not doing in-depth research.
Cite at least six sources (books, newspapers, internet, etc.). You will earn more points, if they come from a wide variety of sources (e.g., one book, one journal, one newspaper, one website, etc.) If the nature of your question makes it difficult to find a wide variety of sources, talk to you TA about getting an exemption from this requirement.
The citations need to be in APA format and alphabetized. (See the syllabus for links to webpages that can help with APA format.)
AT THIS POINT, YOUR PAPER IS FINISHED, BUT THERE ARE 10 ADDITIONAL POINTS:
Zaotong Jiang
Professors Shirley
SOC SCI 3A
21 October 2022
Observation: Education is becoming costlier but the quality is not improving. This can be
evidenced by the increased rate of unemployment. Most schools are not offering student skills
which might aid them in being competent enough in the job market.
Model 2: Costs of education has risen up due to the greed of institutions and government loan
programs which makes education available to anyone regardless of cost. As a result, most
student opt to look for part time jobs so as to cater for the high cost of education. This instead
leads to students not performing better, as they have to balance between education and part time
jobs.
Model 3: Education is becoming costlier due to the multiplication of administrative positions,
many of them having significantly higher salaries. Most institutions seem to value nice facilities
at the expense of the education mission. Thus, increase in administrative costs will not have any
impact on the quality of education offered. These funds need to be diverted in enforcing quality
education is offered.
Model 3: Education is becoming costlier and the quality is poor due to high level of corruption
especially among teachers. Some teachers award grades to students to avoid them from failing
through cheating in exams or assignments. Students mainly bribe the teachers by giving them
money. This mainly discourages the students from working hard hence reducing the education
quality.
ASSIGNMENT ONE
1. Choose an observation. This should not be any observation we have discussed in the
class or that is found in the text. Feel free to be creative. Generally speaking, the more
serious and complex the observation, the more difficult you will find this task. On the other
hand, it may be more interesting and rewarding for you. You are not graded on the choice
of observation, so feel free to choose whatever you wish. You do have to create interesting
models, however. Generally speaking, if your models are just a list of different reason for
different people or for different situations, then they are not models. The problem doesnt
lie with your models, it lies with your observation. Pick a new and different observation.
2. Write a sentence or two describing the observation. For example, Lawyers are more
respected than fast-food workers.
3. Imagine three different speculations about why the observation occurs. These are your
three models. Make sure they are unique and not just subtle variations on each other.
Write a one sentence statement of what your model is. The model should probably not
directly mention the observation. To be a good model, it should be a statement about a
process, it should have interesting implications, and it should be more general rather than
more specific. You will lose points if these conditions are not met. An example of a model
is, People respect education.
4. Write a few sentences describing how each model explains the observation. Here is
where you explain that lawyers are generally more educated than fast-food workers and
that they, therefore, will be more respected.
Thus, your assignment will look like this:
Section One: A description of your observation.
Section Two: A sentence stating your first model, and then a couple sentences explaining
how it relates to your observation.
Section Three: A sentence stating your second model, and then a couple sentences
explaining how it relates to your observation.
Section Four: A sentence stating your third model, and then a couple sentences explaining
how it relates to your observation.
.
You should separate the sections. Do not merely write one long paragraph. This isnt a
literary society. We want to easily see you points. This assignment will probably be less
than a page long.
Observation: Education is becoming costlier but the quality is not improving. This can be
evidenced by the increased rate of unemployment. Most schools are not offering student skills
which might aid them in being competent enough in the job market.
Model 2: Costs of education has risen up due to the greed of institutions and government loan
programs which makes education available to anyone regardless of cost. As a result, most
student opt to look for part time jobs so as to cater for the high cost of education. This instead
leads to students not performing better, as they have to balance between education and part time
jobs.
Model 3: Education is becoming costlier due to the multiplication of administrative positions,
many of them having significantly higher salaries. Most institutions seem to value nice facilities
at the expense of the education mission. Thus, increase in administrative costs will not have any
impact on the quality of education offered. These funds need to be diverted in enforcing quality
education is offered.
Model 3: Education is becoming costlier and the quality is poor due to high level of corruption
especially among teachers. Some teachers award grades to students to avoid them from failing
through cheating in exams or assignments. Students mainly bribe the teachers by giving them
money. This mainly discourages the students from working hard hence reducing the education
quality.
You may need to adjust your observation since it is a bit difficult to model. As it is now, each of
your models would need to address an increase in cost over time (none of your models include
change over time right now) and lack of change in quality. Both need to be addressed
simultaneously in the models. This is why I’m saying it’s difficult to model. Your models all also
lack generality. You should be taking a step back to explain why anything might increase in cost
while stagnating in quality, not just education.
Your experiments need some work. I only left comments on the first one, but
all three have similar issues.
Zaotong Jiang
Jiang 1
You need to explain in much more detail how the experiment would be done.
You need to fix your independent and dependent variables.
You need to tell me how those variables are represented or will be measured.
Professor Shirey
They are not clear enough right now for me to understand what the experiment
entails and if it would really test your models correctly.
SOC SCI 3A
11 November 2022
*Also fix Model 3.
Homework #2
Observation: Branded generics are sold more than unbranded generics.
Model #1: People buy products that are already famous in the market.
People tend to buy branded generics because it has already had a name on several advertisements and is therefore
believed as effective than unbranded generics.
Implication #1 of Model 1: People tend to buy products that have been promoted by
famous people or celebrities.
Implication #2 of Model 1: People tend to try products that are continuously bought by
other people they see in drug stores or pharmacies.
Remember we need to focus on product sales or customer
Model #2: People believe more if it is the first version released. purchases. You are talking about believability in this model so it
doesnt quite fit.
As branded drugs are released more likely firsthand than unbranded generics, therefore, people tend to buy these
branded drugs more than the unbranded generics.
Implication #1 of Model 2: People like to trust products that are first released and may
seem to be effective to them.
Implication #2 of Model 2: People like original versions than buying another version
that is still unknown to them even with the same effect as the
first version they have tried.
Model #3: People find branded generics more effective and absorbed in the body.
This model is not general enough.
As people made their decision on something like choosing the medicine they will buy through a prescription and
finding that the drug affects them, they will develop a sense of trust and therefore will keep on buying these drugs.
Implication #1 of Model 3: People find branded generics as their first choice to take
since they had already seen their efficiency on them.
Implication #2 of Model 3: People normally try other unbranded generics but would end
up being dissatisfied and therefore will go back to their first
choice which is a branded generic.
These implications are only dealing with your initial observation. Move away from the initial
observation a little bit. This issue is stemming from the fact that your model is not general enough.
Your independent and dependent variables are wrong. The IV should be what we are testing differences in
which would be the explanations of each model (fame and perceived effectiveness) and the dependent variable
would be the thing we cared about in the observation (consumer purchase preference).
Natural Critical Experiments
Jiang 2
Critical Experiment 1: Differentiates between Model 1 and 2
This is not telling me at all about how the experiment would be done.
A. The experiment deals with the fame and originality of the branded generics over those that are unbranded.
B. Independent variable is Model 1 stating the fame of the product in the market which causes the buyers to
buy the branded generics more than the unbranded, and the dependent variable is Model 2 which explains
that the branded generics are mostly released in the market firsthand and so the buyers see these generics as
original than those released after it and are unbranded.
C. In a released article from Makati Medical Center (2021), it was defined that brand name drugs have been
through as the original version since these ate the first type of drug that is studied and manufactured by a
pharmaceutical company and had undergone several research methods and trials to make it released to the
buyers in the market. Therefore, this supports Model 1 and 2 that buyers usually buy branded generics
because these are the pioneer version and also who gained already lots of recognition.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model each outcome supports.
a.
How would be know this?
b.
If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the buyers tend to base their decision
on the popularity of the branded generics they purchase.
If Model 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the buyers tend to buy branded
generics because of their truth on pioneering the product and also the reliability of the
pharmaceutical manufacturer that released the drugs to the public.
Critical Experiment 2: Differentiate between Model 1 and 3
A. The experiment deals with the fame and the efficiency of the branded generics than the unbranded ones.
B. Marketing is the first method for manufacturers to release their product on the market and therefore Model
1 is still the independent variable that causes the buyers to buy the more known brand and is already seen in
several advertisements. Moreover, the dependent variable is the efficiency of the branded generics which
will only be achieved if the products are bought.
C. In statistical data from AYTM (n.d.), it was weighed that 70% of their respondents had stated that they
believe that branded items are of higher quality. This refers to the situational condition of the buyers who
believe that branded generics are more effective since it was also based on several studies that the pioneer
brands are those that are released by pharmaceutical companies that studied and researched for these
products. This also supports the independent variable which enables the pioneer brands to first release
theirs on the market and gather more audience than the newer ones.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model outcome supports.
a.
If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the products that are pioneered by
famous brands are what people believe to be more efficient and effective since these are
pharmaceutical manufacturers who had released the products to the market and are therefore
known in high standards in research and quality control.
Jiang 3
b.
If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the products are bought continuously
because of their efficiency and not purely affected by their fame in the market and the
pharmaceutical industry.
Critical Experiment 3: Differentiates between Model 2 and 3
A. This experiment compares the branded generics that are sold because of their pioneer brand in the market
and also through their efficiency.
B. The independent variable is Model 2 which talks about the pioneering of the pharmaceutical companies that
released branded generics which then cause the buyers to buy this firsthand than the newer versions of the
unbranded generics in the market. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is the Model 3 which depends
on its effects on the buyers who purchase the branded generics which affects why people still purchase the
branded generics continuously over the unbranded ones.
C. In a released article from Makati Medical Center (2021), it was stated that pioneer drugs and also the
recognition it earns from the purchasers are what make branded generics gain more buyers than unbranded
generics. This also explains how essential is the factor of pioneering the first released branded generics in
the market which had developed the buyers trust in the branded generics and also how it had given them
certain good effects on their health which then explained in Model 3.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model outcome supports.
a.
If Mode 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be more people are buying branded
generics over unbranded generics because of the long years they have been trusting the
product ever since it was pioneered in the market.
b.
If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the products that are affected by
pioneering are not only solely affected by originality itself but also by the great efficiency the
products had caused the buyers that made them buy the branded generics continuously over
the unbranded generics.
ASSIGNMENT TWO
1.
Restate your observation (already done in first assignment). If you wish or feel the need to do so,
you can pick a new observation and start over. If you do this, please refer to the first assignment in order to
remind you what is required. If you need to revise anything that you, please do so.
2.
Restate your three models (already done in first assignment). Many of you may have to come up
with new models. Also, if it was stated poorly in the first exercise, fix it now. As always, remember
PROCESS. Then make sure you have followed the other rules of thumb: Generality and interesting
implications. Also, remember this isnt a list itemizing different reasons for something, but rather models
that are explaining how or why something happens. Ideally, for this assignment, they should be competing
models where only one of them can be true. The format should be the same as in the first homework
assignment. The first sentence is a simple sentence stating the model. The next couple of sentences can
explain how the model relates to the observation. The model should be separate from the observation.
Most people have a tendency to state a model too specific to the observation. Watch out for this.
3.
State two interesting implications (hypotheses) for each model. Remember to refer to Lave and
March for what makes a good model. There are new concepts, also: Simplicity and Fertility. If you are
not able to come up with a wide variety of implications and hypotheses, it may be because your model isnt
fertile. Remember the rules of thumb (Generality and Interesting Implications). A few sentences should
suffice for each implication.
4.
Describe natural experiments that will discriminate between the models. We call any experiment
that distinguishes between two models a critical experiment. So, these should be natural experiments that
are also critical experiments. (We will refine this more in the next assignment.) There need to be at least
two experiments (if it is well done). Three would probably be better. Do not combine this section with
section 3 (above). It is a distinct section although many of you will find it repetitive. Depending on your
observation and your models, the natural experiments may be very similar to a re-stating of your
implications. If this occurs, dont panic. Likewise, dont expect or anticipate this to happen.
The following four points are guidelines/requirements.
A)
The experiments must be critical experiments. (Refer to Lave and March section 3.2.2.)
B)
You must have enough critical experiments to distinguish all of your models from each
other. Remember, if an experiment predicts the same result for each model, then it is not a good
experiment.
C)
All of the experiments must be natural experiments (as defined by Lave and March and
in class).
D)
Make sure that you specify which model is supported by a particular experimental
outcome. And make sure that for each experiment you discuss more than one outcome.
In addition, you will have to operationalize all of the variables used in the experiments, and you will have
to indicate which variables are dependent variables and which variables are independent variables.
Thus, your assignment will look like this:
Section One (old/revised): A description of your observation.
Section Two (old/revised): Stating your first model and explaining how it relates to your observation.
Section Three (new): State the two implications for your first model. Discuss each implication separately.
Use two paragraphs, one for each implication.
Section Four (old/revised): Stating your second model and explaining how it relates to your observation.
Section Five (new): State the two implications for your second model. Discuss each implication
separately. Use two paragraphs, one for each implication.
Section Six (old/revised): Stating your third model and explaining how it relates to your observation.
Section Seven (new): State the two implications for your third model. Discuss each implication separately.
Use two paragraphs, one for each implication.
Section Eight (new): Describe one of your critical experiments. (Remember it has to be a natural
experiment as well.) State what the experiment is. State which two models it is distinguishing between.
And state what you would expect to see if one of the models is true, and state what you would expect to see
if the other model is true.
The description of the first critical experiment should look something like
a)
b)
c)
d)
Describe the experiment.
State which are the independent and dependent variables.
State how you are going to operationalize the variables.
Describe the outcomes and state which model each outcome supports
Section Nine (new): Repeat Section Eight with another critical experiment.
Section Ten (new): Repeat yet again with yet another Critical experiment. (Remember, unless you can
distinguish all three of you models from each other with only two critical experiments, it is strongly
recommended that you use three critical experiments to successfully distinguish all of you models from
each other.) Note: If your first experiment distinguishes Models 1 and 3, your other experiments cannot all
distinguish Models 1 and 3 and never discuss Model 2. I assume this is obvious.
You should separate the sections. Do not merely write one long paragraph. This isnt a literary society.
We want to easily see you points.
Realize that we are expecting more at this point. Just because you received nine or ten points on your
previous assignment does not mean that you will earn as many points for the same work here.
Jiang 1
Zaotong Jiang
Professor Shirley
SOC SCI 3A
11 November 2022
Homework #2
Observation: Branded generics are sold more than unbranded generics.
Model #1: People buy products that are already famous in the market.
People tend to buy branded generics because it has already had a name on several advertisements
and is therefore believed as effective than unbranded generics.
Implication #1 of Model 1: People tend to buy products that have been promoted by famous
people or celebrities.
Implication #2 of Model 1: People tend to try products that are continuously bought by other
people.
Model #2: People are more likely to buy products that are first pioneered in the market.
As branded drugs are released more likely firsthand than unbranded generics, therefore, people
tend to buy these branded drugs more than the unbranded generics.
Implication #1 of Model 2: People like to trust products that are first released and may
seem to be effective to them.
Implication #2 of Model 2: People like original versions than buying another version
that is still unknown to them even with the same effect as the first version they have tried.
Jiang 2
Model #3: People are more likely to buy products with high quality
As people made their decision to buy the product and finding that the quality of the product is
high, they will develop a sense of trust and therefore will keep on buying these drugs.
Implication #1 of Model 3: People buy the high-quality products
since they had already seen their efficiency on them.
Implication #2 of Model 3: People normally try other products but would end
up being dissatisfied and therefore will go back to their first choice
Natural Critical Experiments
Critical Experiment 1: Differentiates between Model 1 and 2
a. The experiment is about the branded generics are released on the market later than unbranded
generics, will people still buy the branded generics
b. Independent variable is the released time of the branded generics, and the dependent variable
is the customers preferences in buying these branded generics.
c. By delay or advance released time, test if it affects buying preference
d. Invest the customers preferences in buying.
a. If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
branded generics because it is famous
b. If Model 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
unbranded generics because it is first pioneered in the market
Jiang 3
Critical Experiment 2: Differentiate between Model 1 and 3
a. The experiment is about the branded generics are selling the lower quality generics than
unbranded generics, will people still buy the branded generics
b. Independent variable is the quality of the generics, and the dependent variable is the
customers preferences in buying these branded generics.
c. By improve and reduce the quality of generics, test if it affects buying preference
d. Invest the customers preferences in buying.
a. If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
branded generics because it is famous
c. If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
unbranded generics because it has high quality.
Critical Experiment 3: Differentiates between Model 2 and 3
e. The experiment is about the branded generics are selling two types of generics, one type is
released early but with the lower quality, other type is released later but with the high quality,
will people buy the released early type?
a. Independent variable is the released time and the quality of the generics, and the dependent
variable is the customers preferences in buying these generics.
b. Test If the efficiency or originality affect buying preference
c. Invest the customers preferences in buying.
Jiang 4
a. If Model 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
generics released early but with the lower quality
b. If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be the people prefer to buy the
generics with released later but with the high quality
Torres 1
Ashley Lucia Torres
Professor Shirey
SOC SCI 3A
11 November 2022
Homework #2
Observation: Lawyers are more respected than fast food workers. [state your observation]
*Optional to elaborate more here.
Model #1: People respect those who have more money. [state your model in the first sentence]
People respect lawyers more because they make more money than fast food workers who work for
minimum wage. [then elaborate on how this explains your observation in 1-2 sentences]
Implication #1 of Model 1: Thinkif Model 1 is true, what else might we observe?
[1-3 sentences]
Implication #2 of Model 1: [1-3 sentences]
Model #2: People respect those who have more education. [state your model in the first sentence]
People respect lawyers more because they have higher education and specialized credentials from
accredited universities. [then elaborate on how this explains your observation in 1-2 sentences]
Implication #1 of Model 2: [1-3 sentences]
Implication #2 of Model 2: [1-3 sentences]
Model #3: People respect those who have more authority. [state your model in the first sentence]
People respect lawyers more because they are legal authority figures while fast food workers have no
large authority roles. [then elaborate on how this explains your observation in 1-2 sentences]
Implication #1 of Model 3: [1-3 sentences]
Implication #2 of Model 3: [1-3 sentences]
Torres 2
Natural Critical Experiments
Critical Experiment 1: Differentiates between Model 1 and 2
A. Describe the experiment.
B. State which are the independent and dependent variables.
C. State how you are going to operationalize the variables.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model each outcome supports.
a. If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
b. If Model 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
Critical Experiment 2: Differentiates between Model 1 and 3
A. Describe the experiment.
B. State which are the independent and dependent variables.
C. State how you are going to operationalize the variables.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model each outcome supports.
a. If Model 1 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
b. If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
Critical Experiment 3: Differentiates between Model 2 and 3
A. Describe the experiment.
B. State which are the independent and dependent variables.
C. State how you are going to operationalize the variables.
D. Describe the outcomes and state which model each outcome supports.
a. If Model 2 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
b. If Model 3 is true, the outcome of the experiment would be ________________.
