CLEP Intro to Sociology

Economic production

Industrialization is most likely to reduce the importance of which functions of the family

characteristic of Survey research

relies heavily on sampling method

Characteristic of culture

allows humans to adapt quickly to diverse physical environments

Mechanical solidarity

a type of social cohesion based on the similarities of the members of the society

According to Émile Durkheim, the more homogeneous a group the greater its

Mechanical solidarity

Sociologist definition of an occupation

based on abstract knowledge and a body of specialized information

Demographic transition theory

demographic transition is a phenomenon and theory in the social sciences referring to the historical shift from high birth rates and high death rates to low birth rates and low death rates as societies attain more technology, education (especially of women), and economic development.

Merton’s Strain Theory

crime and deviance result from a mismatch between culturally valued goals (like wealth) and the legitimate means available to achieve them

Aging in place

the practice of older adults staying in their current homes and communities as they age, rather than moving to a retirement home or assisted living facility

Verstehen

attempting to understand the meanings and motivations behind people's actions from their own perspective, rather than just observing behavior

Content analysis

a research method used to analyze the content of various forms of media and communication artifacts to understand social phenomena

intragenerational mobility

social changes within an individual's lifetime, meaning changes in their social position or class during their career and life

What distinguished crime from a deviant act

The definition of the act as criminal by a

political entity

Aggregate

a collection of people who are in the same location at the same time but have no other common connection or shared identity

Scapegoat theory

individuals or groups unfairly blame others, especially vulnerable groups, for their own failures or problems

females perform better than males do

on tests of _____

verbal ability

Positivism

a philosophical approach that asserts that knowledge should be based on empirical observation and scientific methods

World systems theory

development and underdevelopment are not solely determined by internal factors within individual nations but are shaped by global power relations and capitalist exploitation

Chicago School's social disorganization perspective

argues that crime rates are higher in areas with weak social ties and a breakdown of informal social control due to factors like poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential instability

Two basic premises that underlie capitalism are that

goods are produced for profit, and the free market determines what is produced and at what price

Secularization

religion's influence on public life and institutions diminishes, and non-religious values and systems gain prominence

Structural functionalism

a sociological theory that views society as a complex system where different parts work together to maintain stability and order

Stratification

a society's categorization of people into a hierarchy based on factors like wealth, income, education, and power

Conflict theory

explains social stratification as a result of unequal access to resources and power, leading to competition and conflict between different groups

Gender stratification

the hierarchical ranking of individuals based on their gender, resulting in unequal distribution of resources, power, and privilege

In An Essay on the Principle of Population, Thomas Malthus argued that

human population grows exponentially while food production grows linearly

Marxist sociological theory attributes social stratification to

private ownership of the means of production

Multiple Nuclei Model

cities don't grow solely around a single Central Business District (CBD), but instead develop around multiple distinct "nuclei" or centers

Symbolic interactionism

focuses on the micro-level, analyzing how individuals' social standing shapes their daily interactions and how people perceive and interpret their social world