AICE Sociology Exam Study Guide

Sociology

The systematic and objective study of human society and social interaction, part of the social science.

Sociological imagination/ perspective

Relationship between the individual and society, the overall understanding of how individuals and society interact.

Hypothesis

Educated guess about what scientist believe will happen between 2 variables

Structure

How a group is organized

Patterns of behavior

Behavior that can be predicted or expected.

Social Sciences

the study of human behavior

Psychology

study of the human brain and how individuals interact in society

Economics

study of the wants and needs of people (groups)

Political Science

study of how and why people vote, and the power struggle within a society

History

study of past events

Scientific Method

a systematic organized series of steps that ensure maximum objectivity & consistency in researching a problem

1. Defining the problem 2. Reviewing the literature 3. Formulating a hypothesis 4. Choosing a research design 5. Collecting the Data (survey, experiments, observations, existing sources) 6. Analyzing the Data 7. Presenting Conclusions

Empirical Research

relies on use of experience, observation & experimentation to collect facts

Variables

Characteristic that can differ from one individual, group or situation to another in a measurable way

Dependent Variables

variable that is changed by the independent variable

Causation

exists when a change in one variable causes a change in another

Correlation (Positive/Negative)

change in one behavior is regularly associated with a change in another

Spurious Correlation

relationship actually based on a 3rd factor/variable; not a direct relationship

Operational definition

what do you hope to investigate? Abstract concept but specific enough to be measurable

Representative Sample

looking for people that are typical of the population of the group to be studied

Random Sample

every person has the same chance as being chosen as another

Validity

The degree to which a measure or scale reflects the phenomenon under study

Reliability

The extent to which a measure provides consistent results

Diffusion of Responsibility

the more people that are present the less likely they are to react/respond (someone else will do it)

Positive Philosophy

Sociology must be studied in the same scientific manner as the natural sciences are studied

Comte's idea that the social world works under certain rules just like the physical world and should be studied in the same way

Social Statics

things remain stable or unchanged

Social Dynamics

society allows change in order for it to get better and for development

Social Darwinism

the strongest will survive, the weak will be eliminated

Anomie

when people feel a loss of direction (Durkheim)

Verstehen

meaning in actions - put oneself in the place of others & tries to see situations through their eyes Max Weber

Ideal Type

essential characteristics of a feature of society, (ex attitudes about work - examine many different examples of the feature & then look for the essential characteristics)Max Weber

rugged individualism

Looking Glass Self

who we are based on others perceptions

Charles Horton Cooley- interactive process through which we develop an image of ourselves

Functionalist Perspective

view society as a set of interdependent parts that work together to produce a stable social system; society is held together by consensus (COMTE, SPENCER, DURKHEIM)

Manifest Function

intended & recognized consequence of some element of society

Latent Function

unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element in society

Dysfunctional

negative consequence an element as for the stability of the social system

Conflict Perspective

social behavior understood in terms of conflict between groups, there will always be conflict between groups forces in society that promote competition and change; competition over scarce resources is at the basis of social conflict; those in control set rules to keep what they have (MARX)

Interactionist Perspective

which focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society; interested in the ways in which individuals respond to one another in everyday situations; also meanings that individuals attach to their own actions and to the actions of others; interested in the symbols in society & how people use symbols when interacting (WEBER)

focus on how individuals interact with and influence one another in society

Auguste Comte

goal to improve society, should study society, social and natural worlds follow the same rules, seen as the father of sociology

Harriet Martineau

translated Comte's work, worried about the plight of women

Herbert Spencer

Social Darwinism

Emile Durkheim

society consists of interdependent parts - sociology as an academic discipline, studied suicide

Max Weber

Interested in groups within a society; Verstehen (meanings in actions)

Karl Marx

fundamental theory of communism, society is in a class struggle between economic classes

Georg Simmel

small groups, as groups expand they lose their distinctive features

Jane Addams

nobel prize, Hull House which worked to solve society's problems, used political activism to get $

C. Wright Mills

wrote Sociological Imagination - connection between the larger world and you

W.E.B. DuBois

African American who worked to help other AA's get better position in society

George Herbert Mead

I Self, Me Self; Symbolic Interactionist - self was a social product from observation of others

Charles Horton Cooley

"Looking Glass Self" - who we are based on others perceptions

Erving Goffman

symbolic interactionist, we play roles and present a face for public view

Collective Behavior

Spontaneous social behavior that occurs when people try to develop common solutions to unclear situations

Collectivity (Diffuse)

gathering of people who have limited interaction with one another and do not share clearly defined, conventional norms or a sense of group unity

Contagion Theory

The hypnotic power of a crowd encourages people to give up their individuality to the stronger pull of the group

Emergent Norm Theory

Acknowledges that individuals in a crowd have different attitudes, behaviors, and motivations

Enlightenment

cultural movement of intellectuals - another reason to study groups

Fads

Unconventional thought or action in a large number of people (objects, activities, ideas, personalities)

Fashions

Desire for particular style of appearance or behavior; most often related to clothes

Function

Durkheim; role of the parts - each person has a role in a group

Purpose of the structure

Industrial Revolution

time when industry/people were centralized which created problems - leading to the study of those groups

Marosociology

Viewing society in large groups or entire civilizations

Microsociology

Identifying the small groups and individual relationships that exist in society

Philosophy

study of problems, looking for wisdom

Rumors and Urban Legend Characteristics

Stories that are passed through a society about an event that may or may not be true, "life lesson" "encourage- discourage behavior" Arise out of uncertain situations, Happens to someone distantly known, Many versions to the same story

Social Movements (characteristics)

Long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change: Long Duration, Highly Structured, Deliberate attempt to institute change

Types: Reactionary, Conservative, Revisionary, Revolutionary

Symbolic Interaction

interactionist perspective - meaningful objects

Symbols

Interactionist perspective; symbols have meanings

also: way we communicate to group members and future communications

Social Structure

network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction

Status

a socially defined position in a group or in a society; each individual occupies several statuses; each status has attached to it one or more roles

Roles

behavior expected of someone occupying a certain status

Ascribed Status

status position assigned based on qualities automatically given; not based on abilities

Achieved Status

status that is acquired by an individual based on earning it through efforts or skills

Master Status

the status the plays the greatest role in shaping a person's life and determining his or her social identity; can be ascribed or achieved

Reciprocal Roles

corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related status----husband/wife or teacher/student; most of the roles we perform are types of reciprocal

Role Expectations

the socially determined behavior expected of a person performing a role--doctors treat patients with skill and care

Role Performance

their actual role behavior; does not always match behavior expected by society sometimes due to performing different roles that contradict

Role Conflict

occurs when fulfilling the role expectations of another status--good parent vs. good employee (2 status positions)

Role Strain

occurs when a person has difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status--boss maintaining morale yet wanting overtime (1 status position involved)

Status Symbols

an object that is representative of a status

Social Institution

System of statuses, roles, values, and norms that is organized to satisfy one or more needs of

Social Interaction

How people relate to one another and influence each others behavior

Exchange

RECEIPROCITY; interaction in hopes of a reward; Exchange Theory is based on idea people are motivated by self-interests

Competition

two or more person or groups oppose each other to achieve a goal only one can attain

Conflict

emphasis on defeating opponent; deliberate attempt to control by force, oppose, harm, or resist the will of another

Cooperation

working together to achieve a desired goal

Accommodation

COMPROMISE; state of balance between cooperation and conflict

Group

Set of two or more people who interact on the basis of shared expectations who possess some degree of common identity

Preindustrial Societies

type of society where food production, carried out by human and animal labor, is main economic activity

Industrial Societies

type of society in which the mechanized production of goods is the main economic activity; Compulsory education

Postindustrial Societies

type of society in which economic activity centers on the production of information and providing of services

Mechanical Solidarity

people share common tasks and therefore are united in a common whole; Preindustrial; Gemeinschaft (Community)

Organic Solidarity

impersonal social relationships with increased job specialization; Gesellschaft (Society)

Primary Group

members share personal, enduring relationships (family)

Secondary Group

impersonal, members pursue a specific interest or activity (classmates)

Stratification

division of society into categories, ranks or classes; stratification implies inequality

Social Inequality

unequal sharing of scarce resources

Caste System

scarce resources and rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses; a newborn child's lifelong status or caste is determined by the status of parents

Endogamy

marriage within certain caste/group

marriage within your 'group'

Class System

distribution of scarce resources and rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses

Means of Production

materials and methods used to produce goods and services

Bourgeoisie

Owners