Social Science Flashcards

Flashcards in Vocabulary style based on provided lecture notes.

Anthropology

The study of the human species and its origins and the development of its language and culture.

Sociology

The study of society and social behavior.

Psychology

The study of the human mind, behaviors, emotions, cognitive processes and personality.

Inquiry Question

A question that probes deeply into the topic while eliciting meaningful responses

Bias

Having opinions or feelings that are determined without full consideration of all of available facts and information.

Confirmation Bias

Favoring information that supports existing beliefs.

Implicit Bias

Unconscious prejudices affecting attitudes and actions.

Systemic Bias

Institutional policies or norms that favor one group over another.

Surveys

Predetermined questions and are often administered anonymously. They are an efficient way to gather information.

Interviews

A really good way to learn information about a person or group of people in a way that can be altered depending upon their responses.

Participant Observation

This involves the researcher spending time observing a person or group either with or without their knowledge.

Focus Groups

This is when a group of people are brought together in a group setting. The person running the focus group may ask prompting questions.

Case Studies

These often centre around one event which is an excellent example, or one person who is an expert on a specific topic.

Journal Articles and Literature Reviews

Each branch of academic and professional study has peer reviewed periodicals. To have your work published you must first have it approved by a panel of professionals in the field who ensure that the methodology and findings are replicable and ethical

News Sources

Stories that are told in the news have already been researched and are presented in such a way that they are accessible and easily understood by the general population.

Documentaries

Movies are often either fictional or designed to provide entertainment, documentaries are more likely to be based on interviews or participant observation but were compiled and produced by someone other than the researcher

Other Statistics

This may include data sources such as Statistics Canada or census result.

Social Activism

The organized effort to promote, direct, or influence social, political, or environmental change.

Grassroots Activism

Local, community-based efforts.

Digital Activism

Online movements using social media.

Institutional Activism

Working within systems to create change.

Structural Functionalist Theory

How each part of a society contributes to the overall stability

Conflict Theory

Opposing powers are in conflict until the more dominant one overpowers the rest

Feminist Theory

Concerned with both equality and equity between sexes

Cultural Materialism

Most aspects of human culture can be explained in material terms

Cognitive Theory

People can learn simply by observation, changing their behavior immediately

Humanism

Utilizes an individual’s view of themselves and others to determine their outlook

Intersectionality

Examines how different forms of discrimination overlap

Plagiarism

Gathering ideas through research and not stating that they were found in another source. This can be grounds for academic penalty.

Referencing

Acknowledging the sources of information and ideas used in your work, typically through in-text citations and a list of references, to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.

Citing

An in-text note in the form of a bracket with the minimum amount of information necessary to help the reader locate the source of the information on your reference list.

Physical Environment

The physical environment (including climate, habitat, animals, and vegetation) determines the lifestyles of the people who live there.

Population Changes

Includes the results of immigration, emigration, and demographic shifts.

Technology

The availability and affordability of technology in a society determines how people communicate, learn, and complete daily tasks, such as navigation.

Cultural Diffusion

Societies, cultures, and communities tend to change when they are exposed to outside influences.

Social Values

Some societies are very open to change, and others prefer to maintain a traditional lifestyle.

Quantitative Data

Any data gathered that has numerical values or statistics

Qualitative Data

Any data that is descriptive in nature rather than numerical

Globalization

The interaction of people, groups, companies, or governments in different countries around the world

Demographics

The study of human populations—their size, structure, and changes.

Impact of War

War leads to a loss of able-bodied men, reducing the workforce and reproductive-age males.

Effect on Population Pyramid: War

High death tolls flatten or narrow reproductive-age sections post-war baby booms create a bulge in the younger, pre-reproductive category.

Impact of Famine/Disease

Famine and infectious diseases surge with growing populations and increased global interaction.

Effect on Population Pyramid: Famine/Disease

Wider base may shrink due to child mortality, and overall population may thin due to deaths, especially in pre-reproductive and elderly categories.

Government Policy (One Child Policy)

The One Child Policy limited family size, reduced population growth, and caused a long-term imbalance in gender and age distribution.

Effect on Population Pyramid: Government Policy

Narrow base low birth rate, wider top aging population, and possible gender imbalance (more males in younger generations).

Emigration

Mass emigration reduces the working-age population, creating labor shortages and loss of skilled workers.

Effect on Population Pyramid: Emigration

Depletion of the reproductive and workforce-age categories, skewing the pyramid toward younger dependents and older dependents.

Immigration

Immigration can offset low birth rates, especially in developed countries.

Effect on Population Pyramid: Immigration

Widening of the reproductive-age group and young dependents, stabilizing or expanding population base.

Increased Number of Females in the Workplace & Higher Education

More women in the workforce and higher education delay age of first childbirth, reduce family size, and increase family income.

Effect on Population Pyramid: Increased Number of Females in the Workplace & Higher Education

Delayed births shift childbearing to later years, resulting in fewer children per family, narrowing the base (pre-reproductive group), and increasing numbers of older working-age women

Pre-Reproductive (0–14)

Affected by birth rates and child mortality

Reproductive (15–49)

War, emigration, and gender norms greatly affect this category, causing dents or replenishments.

Post-Reproductive (50+)

Aging populations grow with low birth rates and improved healthcare; China’s One Child Policy and high female workforce participation accelerate this.

How Generations are Categorized

Generations are divided by birth years, but these boundaries are flexible grey areas exist where individuals might identify with traits of either adjacent generation.

Baby Boomers (born ~1946–1964)

High birth rates post-WWII, economic prosperity, traditional family roles.

Generation X (born ~1965–1980)

Lower birth rates, more individualism, rise in divorce rates, emerging technology use.

Millennials (born ~1981–1996)

Digital natives, higher education levels, delayed marriage and childbearing, focus on work-life balance, social activism.

Generation Z (born ~1997–2012)

Highly connected to technology and social media, diverse and inclusive perspectives, concern for environmental and social justice.

Deviance

Behavior that departs from societal norms.

Bad Deviance

Harmful behavior like crime and violence.

Odd Deviance

Unusual but harmless behavior, like eccentric dress or unconventional hobbies.

Admired Deviance

Positive but rule-breaking behavior, like whistleblowers or revolutionaries.

Primary Deviance

Occasional rule-breaking.

Secondary Deviance

Regular, patterned deviance.

Labeling Theory

Deviance is determined by how society labels certain behaviors.

Differential Association Theory

Deviance is learned from peer groups and close relationships.

Social Control Theory

People obey norms because of strong social bonds and commitments to societal values. Weak bonds increase the likelihood of deviance.

Conformity

Behaving in order to fit in with a group.

Alienation

Not identifying with or fitting into a group.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social rules and norms.

Crimes Against a Person

Assault, Kidnapping, Homicide/Murder, Rape.

Crimes Against Property

Theft, Arson, Burglary.

Victimless Crimes

Prostitution, Gambling, Drug Abuse, Fraud.

Discrimination-Based Crimes

Hate crimes, discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, disability, etc.

Restorative Justice

Focuses on rehabilitation and reconciliation between offender and victim.

Imprisonment

Incarceration to remove offenders from society and deter future crimes.

Immigration

Helps offset low birth rates, fills workforce gaps, and enriches cultural diversity.

Gentrification

Wealthier individuals move into less desirable areas, raising property values and displacing original residents.

Multiculturalism (Canada’s Approach)

Canada embraces a multicultural model, where immigrants are encouraged to retain their cultural identities, languages, and traditions while becoming part of Canadian society.

Melting Pot (Contrasting Approach)

The melting pot model encourages immigrants to assimilate into the dominant culture, adopting its language, norms, and practices.

Leaders of Change

Individuals, groups, or organizations that drive or inspire social change within society.

Grassroots Movements

Start with a few individuals or a small group who identify a problem or need for change.

Governmental Action

Sometimes, governments initiate social change directly due to concerns like public safety or international obligations but sometimes react to pressure from grassroots movements or public opinion.

NGOs and Transnational Organizations

They are not part of the government or profit-seeking businesses, working globally or nationally on issues like health, human rights, or the environment.

Purpose of Regulatory Documents

Social change can be encouraged by formal documents that outline expected behaviours, rights, or goals for society.

Regulatory Documents

Created by governments, often have legal consequences for not following (deviance).

Aspirational or Goal-Oriented Documents

Set out broad goals for positive change, but may not have direct penalties.

Infographic

A visual representation (image or diagram) used to communicate information or data quickly and clearly.