Sociology

What is sociology

the study of social life, social change, and the social consequences of human behavior

sociological imagination

A framework for understanding our social world that far surpasses any common-sense notion we might derive from our limited social experiences. (making the connection between personal challenges and larger social issues)

personal troubles

private problems experienced within the character of the individual

Social issues

lie beyond one persons control

Roles

patterns of behavior that we recognize in each other that represent a person’s social status

status

responsibilities and benefits a person experiences due to their rank/role in society

role strain and conflict

strain-too much demanded, conflict- conflicting roles

what are the three main sociological perspectives

Symbolic interaction, Conflict theory, and functionalist theory

Symbolic interaction

focuses on symbols, meaning, and understanding, and recognizes that human behavior is influenced by what we believe

Conflict theory

views society as different groups and interests competing for power and resources. (who profits from problems)

Functionalist theory

society is interconnected parts that work together and maintain a state of balance

Manifest vs. latent functions

Manifest-what something is intended to do, latent- underlying functions

Surveys

Collects individuals responses that are good for collecting feelings, thoughts, and actions

field research

gathering primary data from a natural environment- observes behavior

participant observation

Researchers join people and participate in a group to observe them

ethnography

the immersion of a researcher in the natural setting of an entire social community- focuses on social standing

institutional ethnography

focuses on everyday concrete social relationships

case study

in depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual

experiments

lab based or field based that answer if, then statements

Secondary data analysis

completed work from other researchers

Value neutrality

practice of remaining impartial during the course of a study and in publishing results