Using A Sociological Approach: The Key Findings

Using a Sociological Approach Institutional Affiliation Student’s Name Course Name/Number Instructor’s name Due Date   1) What were the key findings and conclusions from the research? Entailed in the article was a research conducted on ‘Food Deserts’ and how they affect public health and the limited financial resources. Authors Sarah Bowen, Lillian MacNell, and Matt Shipman discovered that in Raleigh, N.C., (a USDA defined food desert), there were supermarkets offering fresh vegetables and fruits, but neighborhood stores provided little or no fresh produce. The researchers further conducted comprehensive interviews with forty-two neighborhood residents and discovered that price was the most significant determinant of where individuals shopped. The conclusion from the research was that access to supermarkets really matters– individuals reported that they if they could shop often, they would eat more produce. THEORY Remember: The four major sociological theories are Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Rational Choice Theory. 2) Use one of the four major sociological theories to explain the key findings in the research article you reviewed in Part A. You should write two paragraphs, one for each question. a) How would this theory explain the key findings or conclusion of the research in the article? b) What limitations does this theory demonstrate in addressing the problem examined in the research article? The sociological theory that I will use to explain the key findings of the research is the functionalism theory in which society functions as a system. Each aspect of society is co-dependent and supports society’s overall functioning and stability. Functionalists believe that society is bound by a social consensus, whereby its members decide upon and work jointly to accomplish what is best for the society at large. This theory explains the conclusion of the research whereby efforts to ease physical access to healthy foods and the challenge of affordability are made. This theory, however, has some limitations in addressing the issues conveyed in the research article. One limitation is; functionalism does not require individuals to activel...