In addition to exams, I will be assessing your mastery of course material via fo

In addition to exams, I will be assessing your mastery of course material via four original Research/Reflection Project reports (each around 2–4 pages, double spaced), to be submitted for grading through “Assignments” in Canvas. See Class Calendar for due dates; late work may be subject to a grade penalty at my discretion, so as not to disadvantage those students who turned in their work on time. Do not restrict your answers to information found in the textbook and outside resources. I will be looking for your own thoughtful reflection on issues we have been studying—that is, for evidence that you are actively engaging with the class material and MAKING IT YOUR OWN. The more specific detail and examples you provide in your responses, the more credit you stand to earn. Project 4 (Racism and Research Ethics) will count for up to 10 credit points toward your course grade (see Grading Rubric below). NOTE: Project 4 is the SOC 1303 “signature assignment” for use in the assessment of UHD’s core General Education program. In this context, your work will be evaluated in terms of Social Responsibility and Critical Thinking.
Racism and Research Ethics. Read “Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study” (Brandt 1978), and download a hard copy for reference:
Brandt, Allan M. 1978. “Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.” The Hastings Center Report 8(6):21–29. doi:10.2307/3561468. Retrieved October 21, 2023 (https://www-jstor-org.uhd.idm.oclc.org/stable/3561468Links to an external site.).
After reading, answer the questions from the two sections below.
Section 1 (Social Responsibility): In your own words, write 1–2 paragraphs describing the events presented in the essay. Answer each of the following specific questions in your response:
What were the main discussion points of the Brandt (1978) essay?
What were the results and consequences of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
Would it be acceptable to replicate this study today? Why or why not?
Was this study ethical or unethical? Explain why.
If you learned of a similar situation within your own realm of responsibility and control today, how would you respond in support of, or in opposition to, prevailing cultural rules and norms? (Consider both formal institutional standards and informal workplace norms.)
Section 2 (Critical Thinking): Using one of the three major sociological perspectives presented in this course (Functional, Conflict, or Interactionist), explain the events described in the essay.
For the sociological perspective you choose, apply the perspective to the article and draw one or more conclusions from your analysis.
Discuss the limitations of the paradigm you chose in explaining those events. In other words, what does the paradigm miss or not explain well?