Sociology of Family, Socialisation, and Research Methods

What do consensus perspectives like functionalism emphasize about the family?

They emphasize the positive effects of the family for individuals and society, maintaining social order.

What do conflict perspectives such as Marxism highlight regarding family life?

They emphasize the negative effects of family life and its support for capitalism and ruling-class interests.

How do feminist perspectives view the family?

They emphasize how families benefit men at the expense of women.

What types of family structures are recognized in sociology?

Nuclear, lone-parent, reconstituted, extended, same-sex families, families of choice, and single-person households.

What is family diversity?

Family diversity refers to the variety of family types and structures that exist, influenced by organizational, cultural, and class dimensions.

What do New Right perspectives argue about family diversity?

They argue that family diversity is damaging for individuals and society.

What do postmodern perspectives suggest about family choices?

They suggest that individuals now have greater choice in their family and personal lives.

What is the debate regarding gender inequality in families?

The debate centers on the extent of gender inequality in areas like housework, childcare, power, and emotional labor.

What does the 'dark side' of family life refer to?

It refers to issues such as violence and abuse within families.

How is childhood viewed in terms of social construction?

Childhood is considered socially constructed both historically and cross-culturally.

What factors affect the experience of children in families?

Social class, gender, and ethnicity.

What are the two main types of data in sociological research?

Primary data and secondary data.

What are the two main categories of research methods?

Quantitative and qualitative research methods.

What is the positivist approach in sociology?

An approach based on scientific methods, objectivity, reliability, and value-freedom.

What is the interpretivist approach in sociology?

An approach focused on verstehen, meaning, subjectivity, and validity.

What is methodological pluralism?

An approach that combines different research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding.

What are some ethical considerations in sociological research?

Ethical issues include informed consent, confidentiality, and the potential impact on participants.

What is operationalization in research design?

The process of defining variables and measuring them in a study.

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

To test the research design and methods before conducting the main study.

What is the significance of validity in research?

Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure or the extent to which it measures what it claims to measure.

What does reliability in research refer to?

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure across different occasions.

What is the role of socialization in human behavior?

Socialization influences human behavior by teaching culture, norms, values, and roles.

What are the main agencies of socialization?

Family, education, peer groups, media, and religion.

What is the difference between structuralist and interactionist views?

Structuralists focus on social structures that influence behavior, while interactionists emphasize individual agency and interactions.

What is the concept of 'anomie'?

Anomie refers to a state of normlessness or breakdown of social norms in society.

What is the significance of the 'I' and the 'me' in social identity?

These concepts by George Herbert Mead describe the dual aspects of self: the 'I' as the spontaneous self and the 'me' as the socialized self.