Peer Review

The Scientific Method

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 1, 2026 by Sociology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Professor Lynn Ritchey introduces Emile Durkheim's study of suicide, using the 7 steps of the scientific method. This study aims to define the problem, review literature, form hypotheses, collect and analyse data, and draw conclusions. It aims to share that suicide is shaped by social forces .

Type of Material:

The main material consists of audio-visual YouTube videos that use effective animations to present topics in an engaging and accessible way. The channel hosts 41 videos, focusing on sociological and anthropological issues related to culture, interaction, and communication. This video mainly focuses on Durkheim's, a famous sociologist, research on suicide.

Recommended Uses:

The channel offers a rich collection of 41 audio-visual videos supported by animations that make complex sociological concepts easy to understand. Instructors may consider embedding selected videos into existing sociology as supplemental learning material or assigning them as independent study resources.

The video uses a sociological study to teach students the scientific method in a very practical way. It can be used to teach students in sociology or pyschology online courses. It can also be used in online workshops and training for researchers and professionals. It can also be used in research projects.

Technical Requirements:

No special skills are required to access the videos on YouTube. They can be easily viewed through any web browser—such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or other browsing software—as well as through the YouTube app.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Students will be able to describe the seven steps of the scientific method.

Students will also be able to learn Durkheim's study of suicide and its findings, and apply it to the practical world.

Target Student Population:

Undergraduate and graduate students.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

No formal prerequisites are required to benefit from the videos. The material is designed to be accessible to learners at all levels, including those with little or no prior background in sociology.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Clear and concise presentation of complex sociological and anthropological concepts.
Effective use of animation and audio-visual elements to engage learners.
Concepts are grounded in the discipline, relevant, and informed by scholarship.
Content is self-contained, flexible, and adaptable for multiple teaching contexts.
Organized into structured playlists (Culture, Interaction, Communication) that aid sequential learning.
explicit attribution or references to original scholarly sources (e.g., key theorists, published research).
Provides accurate and up-to-date information suitable for students and educators.

Concerns:

There is no introduction, that will captivate the learner and spark their interest.

The content is not labelled with references.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The YouTube channel “Cultural Commonalities, Diversity, and Interaction” by Professor Lynn Ritchey demonstrates high potential as an effective teaching and learning tool. The learning objectives are clearly identifiable, focusing on cultural patterns, intercultural communication, and interactional processes. The videos explicitly target foundational concepts in sociology and anthropology, while remaining accessible to learners with minimal prior knowledge.

The material reinforces concepts progressively through its structured playlists—Culture, Interaction, Communication—allowing students to build on prior understanding and observe the relationships between key concepts. The animated, audio-visual format supports conceptual understanding, making abstract sociological ideas more tangible and memorable.

In terms of integration, the videos are flexible and easy to embed into curricula. Instructors can use them as supplemental resources, discussion prompts, case study illustrations, or independent study material. Students can also gain significant learning in a short period, as the videos concisely demonstrate core concepts with visual and verbal clarity.

Overall, the channel is efficient, versatile, and pedagogically sound, enhancing opportunities for both conceptual understanding and applied learning in multiple teaching contexts.

Concerns:

It doesn't identify prerequisite knowledge.

Teaching and learning goals are not easy to identify.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

It is easy to use and the site is in working order. It provides appropriate flexibility in its use.

Concerns:

The material is a bit confusing, with a lot of texts and the instructor teaching at the same time.

Other Issues and Comments:: The video is on a public platform that is accessible to all learners.
Creative Commons: