Glossary. I. Read and translate the text:

Social Barometer

UNIT 2

I. Read and translate the text:

A great part of sociological research consists of quantitative experimenting. The system of techniques used for that purpose is that of statistical methods. These methods are necessary to examine the data, analyse them and draw certain conclusions. The results of the socio­logical survey are published then.

Sociological research is usually conducted by a working group under the supervision of the leading sociologists of the Ail-Russian Centre for the Study of Public Opinion. The public opinion poll is a criterion of the current social life within the society. It is the so-called social barometer of the country. In fact our fast-moving life makes it necessary to analyse things. So it is useful to examine the results of sociological surveys.

The public opinion poll is carried out nationwide or in some definite regions, cities, establishments. It may be verbal in the form of an interview. But more often the opinion poll is conducted by means of tests or ques­tionnaires. The questionnaires contain some items to be chosen by the subjects. In other cases the questionnaires present a set of questions to be answered by the res­pondents in their individual way. The polled may express their own opinions verbally or in writing. The assessments may be optimistic, pessimistic, dramatic, positive, negative. They expose and reassess our ideals and values.

The polls are very popular nowadays throughout the country. In general, they are directed to assess current social and political situation, political figures, the most important events, economic perspectives, our losses and gains and so on. All -data are given in percentages.

assessment – оценка, оценивание carry out – проводить (исследование) conclusion – заключение conduct - проводить(исследование) current – текущий, в настоящее время direct – направлять (гл.), прямой (прил.) establishment – учреждение, организация event – событие examine – исследовать, выявлять expose – показывать gain – прибыль, выгода in percentages – в процентном отношении item – пункт loss – потеря nowadays - в настоящее время public opinion poll – опрос общественного мнения purpose – цель quantitative – количественный ques­tionnaire – анкета, опросник reassess – подвергать переоценке, пересмотру research – исследование social – общественный society – общество supervision – руководство survey – обзор, опрос, анкетирование the data – данные the subjects – респонденты useful - полезный verbally - устно

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What methods are the basic tools in every sociological research? 2. Who conducts sociological research? 3. What is considered to be a social barometer? 4. Where is the public opinion poll carried out? 5. In what form may it be conducted? 6. What are the questionnaires like? 7. How do the polled express their opinions? 8. What do assessments expose? 9. What is the aim of the polls? 10. How are all data given?

III. Ask your groupmate:

- Why the statistical methods are used for the sociological survey; - Under whose supervision sociological research is conducted; - Why it is useful to conduct a public opinion poll; - By what means the poll is carried out; - Who the respondents are; - If the polls are popular in this country.

IV. Find in the text the facts to prove that:

1. Statistical methods are a useful tool in sociological research. 2. Public opinion poll is a social barometer. 3. It is carried out in different forms. 4. The respondents may react differently.

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