Use this worksheet to practise the sociological imagination: the habit of linking a personal experience to the wider patterns, structures and history that shape it. For 15 worked examples, see our sociological imagination examples guide.
The 4-step method
| Step | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| 1. Personal trouble | What is happening to this person, in their own words? |
| 2. Pattern | How many other people face the same thing? Is it common in a group, place or time? |
| 3. Structure | Which institutions, policies, markets or norms shape it? |
| 4. History | How has this changed over time, and why now? |
Practise with three scenarios
Scenario 1
I can't afford a car, so I spend two hours a day on the bus to get to work.
Pattern
Structure
History
Public issue in one sentence
Scenario 2
My shift schedule changes every week, so I can't plan childcare.
Pattern
Structure
History
Public issue in one sentence
Scenario 3
I'm one of only three women in my engineering class.
Pattern
Structure
History
Public issue in one sentence
Show the answer guide
Answer guide
Scenario 1
- Pattern: Long commutes are common for workers who cannot afford to live near their jobs.
- Structure: Housing costs, where jobs are located, public transit funding and route planning.
- History: Rising housing costs and the spread of jobs to suburbs have pushed lower-income workers further from work.
- Public issue: Transportation access and housing affordability shape who can reach good jobs.
Scenario 2
- Pattern: Many workers in retail, health care and hospitality have schedules that change from week to week.
- Structure: Scheduling practices, labour laws on notice of shifts, and the cost and opening hours of child care.
- History: The growth of service work and of scheduling tied closely to customer demand.
- Public issue: Unpredictable scheduling makes stable child care hard for working parents.
Scenario 3
- Pattern: Women are under-represented in many engineering programs and workplaces.
- Structure: How science and technical subjects are encouraged in school, workplace culture, and the lack of role models.
- History: Engineering was long seen as a male profession, and change has been gradual.
- Public issue: Gender gaps in engineering reflect social expectations and institutions, not individual ability.
Your answers can differ. What matters is that each step moves from the individual to something larger.
