SS144 UNIT 8 ASSIGNMENT DELIVERABLE 2

Introduction: Defining poverty in America today by the people of America. Survey research methodology will be used to answer the question of how people in America define poverty I asked three questions to three different people. I will be using unstructured interview questions to conduct this research. Unstructured interviews use open-ended questions to allow the respondent to respond in his or her own words (Henslin, 2019, p.136). For this specific research question, I feel a unstructured interview would be best because I can collect the respondent’s own opinion instead of pushing my own beliefs towards them. The three questions that were asked of each respondent were: 1. How would you define poverty? 2. What kind of people live in poverty? 3. What do you think leads people into poverty?

Research Methods: The first person I interviewed was a total stranger via Facebook; Shes 28 years old mother of two, she stated she believed to middle class. Her and her husband both have full time jobs and own their own home and cars, she stated they want for nothing. Took approximately 5 minutes to administer the questionnaire.

The second person I interviewed was my husband. The respondent stated that he was 20 years old and belonged to the lower class of most people when it came to his income. He has 2 children and a wife. He works a full time job and so did his wife. . It took approximately 6 minutes to administer the questionnaire.

Third interviewee was a 34 year old female divorced from a 9 year marriage with 2 kids who believe she is in the middle class. Took roughly 3 minutes to conduct the interview.

Results: The first respondent First question; how would you define poverty; I define poverty as someone who doesn’t have much of anything but appreciates what little they do get. They are poor in riches but I think are rich is appreciation. Question two; What kind of people live in poverty; I think of other countries. Most countries have dirty water and they don’t have all the freedom that United States has and that is what makes us such an amazing country, our freedom. Americans can live in poverty too. Like homeless people, etc. Question 3, What do you think leads people into poverty?; I think what leads people into poverty depends they could just not want to work, they could have got laid off and can’t find a new job, they could not have the qualifications that any job is looking for. I know this is irrelevant but no one should judge a soul but people do. You don’t know what led to someone being in poverty. It is by the Grace of God that we aren’t.
The second respondent. First question; how would you define poverty; A social class were you can barely manage to eat and pay bills, if at all. You struggle daily to survive. Question two; What kind of people live in poverty; Sometimes uneducated, lazy, or unlucky people. It’s people that don’t strive to better themselves. Question 3, What do you think leads people into poverty?; People can be born into it, and simply become stuck or accustomed to it. They are some that make bad decisions and lose everything. Also, some people just don’t want to work or better themselves

The third respondent. First question; how would you define poverty; Not being able to provide or contribute enough support to ones home or family to meet basic needs. Question two; What kind of people live in poverty; Anyone can live in poverty. Question two; What kind of people live in poverty; Illnesses and not being able to work anymore. There are numerous reasons that can lead to poverty.

Some similarities in each of the respondent’s questions were the answers to the first question as they both stated that poverty is when you struggle to get by as well as question three theyre many different reasons you can be in poverty. Some differences in each of the respondent’s questions were how they answered question number two. Each respondent stated different opinions from lazy, born into it, and illness. People in America today define poverty by not being able to meet your most basic needs such as food, water or housing.

Conclusion: After conducting these research questions, I have concluded that people from every part of outlook on life can view poverty in America today as many different things but also see it as not being able to meet your most basic needs.

References

Henslin, J.M. (2019). Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach. Boston, MA. Pearson Publishing.