Sociological Descriptions, Numerical Data, and Ethnography

Flashcards testing knowledge on sociological descriptions vs. explanations, counting practices, ethnographic fallacies, and ideal type concepts based on the lecture context.

According to the lecture, what is the distinction between disease and the social construction of illness?

Biological and physical processes such as viruses and bacteria are referred to as disease, whereas how individuals, sufferers, and professionals categorize, make sense of, and treat these processes is heavily socially constructed.

What role did Conrad and Parker highlight regarding the spread of information and autism diagnoses?

They showed that social processes, diffused information, and social networks led to an increase in diagnoses—especially at the lower end of the spectrum—by giving people a recognizable classification and diagnosis for odd behaviors.

Why does description precede explanation in sociological analysis?

Description provides the 'what' before sociologists can address the causal 'why' (such as $X$ causes $Y$). Working with incoherent analytical concepts or descriptions leads to inaccurate explanations.

What two distinct sociological approaches to describing homelessness are contrasted in the lecture?

Mitch Denier's ethnographic description, which offers a view from the inside through participant observation, and Sandy James's (or Sandy Ganz's) numerical description, which provides a numerical portrait from the outside.

What are three different ways mentioned to measure the vitality or state of French in Quebec?

1. Census data measuring language spoken at home.
2. Language used at the place of work or school.
3. Average competency measured through a standardized French test given to a random sample.

Why can refugee graphs starting in 1950 or 1955 present a misleading 'crisis' narrative?

Starting the timeline after World War II cuts off the massive population displacements that occurred prior to the 1951 Geneva Convention, making current numbers appear historically unprecedented when earlier peaks are omitted.

What is the 'ethnographic fallacy' described in the lecture?

The tendency in ethnographic research where participants over-interpret their own agency and blame their personal shortcomings (e.g., drinking) for their situation, while remaining unaware of broader structural constraints.

According to the discussion on Howard Becker, how do sociological concepts differ from common sense concepts?

Common sense concepts function to help individuals navigate daily life or advance political claims, whereas sociological concepts are designed to reveal hidden aspects of the social world and enable coherent analytical comparisons.

What is an 'ideal type' concept in sociology?

An analytical concept that distills specific key features and characteristics of a social phenomenon to help recognize it across different domains, such as modern bureaucracy (e.g., McGill) or companion marriage.