intro to sociology exam 1

sociology

the scientific and systematic study of groups and group interactions. a way of thinking about people

society

a group of people that live in a defined area that share a common culture

culture

a groups shared practices, values, beliefs. includes social rules and everyday interactions

sociological imagination

coined by mills. connection between history and biography. an awareness of the relationship between a persons behavior and experiences and the wider culture that shaped the persons choices

what do sociologists study

cultural patterns (social forces and influences) put pressure on people to make choices. sociologists try to identify these patterns by examining large groups of people. study laws, morals, values, religious beliefs

figuration

the individual and society are inseparable. this is simultaneously analyzing both

marx sociological imagination

industrialism and capitalism

durkheim and weber sociological imagination

religion and society

dubois sociological imagination

race in post civil war america

academic sociology

study the world without affecting it

activist sociology

use what we learn to improve society

positivism

applies scientific methods

quantitive sociology

uses statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants. try to analyze data to uncover patterns of human behavior

qualitative sociology

seeks to understand through interviews, focus groups, analysis of content sources (books, magazines, journals)

looking glass

the mind and self are developed as a result of social processes. an individuals reaction to a positive or negative reaction depends on who the other is. significant others are the most important

generalized others

organized and generalized attitude of a social group

how do we develop in society

we see ourselves by the reactions of others we interact with. if someone reacts positively, we will continue that behavior

social solidarity

social ties and morals of a group. ex different takes on suicide depending on religion

grand theories

attempt to explain large scale relationships and why societies form and change

structural functionalism

society is a structure with parts meant to meet the biological and social needs of society, everything has a specific function, even punishment. we are held together by shared values and needs (govt, education, healthcare) and you need to look beyond the individual but the larger functioning body

dynamic equilibrium

structural functionalism. in a healthy society, all parts work together to maintain stability

manifest functions

consequences of a social process that is sought or anticipated (college is to gain knowledge)

latent functions

unsought consequences of a social process. college lets you meet new people. can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral

dysfunctions

social processes that have undesirable consequences for operation of society. ex people drop out of college

criticism of functionalism

things may continue to happen even if they dont serve a purpose, not useful in a macro level. cant explain social change even though the functions are processes

conflict theory

society is a competition for limited resources. social institutions perpetuate this inequality (economic, political, social). conflict can help stabilize a society. defined by a dominant group that controls others

critical theory

an expansion of conflict theory. addresses structural issues causing inequality. explain whats wrong in social reality, identify the people that can make changes, provide practical goals

conflict theory criticisms

focuses too much on conflict and excludes recognizing stability. many social structures have been extremely stable or gradually progressed rather than abruptly change as suggested

symbolic interactionist

focus on relationships among individuals in a society. communication is the way people make sense of the world and meaning comes from interactions with others. one on one interactions between individuals

symbolic interactionism

humans interact with things based on meanings ascribed to those things. meaning comes from interactions with others and society

dramaturgical analysis

symbolic interactionist. people are actors in a play that constantly switch roles and improvise. use qualitative research methods

constructivism

extension of symbolic interaction theory. reality is what humans construct it to be based on interactions with others. constructs that LAST OVER TIME are those that have meanings that are widely agreed upon. used to examine whats defined as deviant in a society

criticism of constructivism

difficult to remain objective, narrow focus on symbolic interaction

antipositivism

social researchers should strive for subjectivity in their studies

verstehen

to understand in a deep way. in seeking verstehen, outside observers of a social world try to understand it from an insiders pov

what do the result of studies tell us

insight into human behavior and social practices. gives access to other cultures, beliefs, attitudes

literature review

review of any similar or related studies

reliability

how likely research results are to be replicated if the study is reproduced. increases the likelihood that what happens in one trial will happen in another

validity

how well the study measures what it was designed to measure

operational definition

define each concept or variable in terms of the physical steps it takes to measure it. ex measuring good grades in a specific class but the definition of good grades can vary. establish a set good grade so it can be consistently replicated

interpretive framework/perspective

a form of investigation/ experiment that seeks to understand social worlds from the pov or participants. use observation or interaction with subjects

critical sociology

deconstruction of existing sociological research. since social science is embedded in the system of power constituted by the set of class, race, gender, it cant be truly objective

what does critical sociology believe the purpose of theories

legitimize and rationalize systems of social power or liberate humans from inequality

primary data collection

survey, participant observation, experiments

secondary data analysis

use of existing sources. saves time/money. interpret findings in a new way

nonreactive research

does not involve direct contact with subjects, cant alter their behavior

content analysis

record info from secondary data

population

focus of a study

sample

manageable amount of subjects that represent a larger population

random sample

every person in a population has the same chance of being chosen in the study

field research

gathering primary data from a natural environment

participant observation

researchers join people and participate in a groups activities for observation

ethnography

immersion of the researcher in the natural setting of an entire social community to observe their culture

institutional ethnography

focuses intentionally on everyday concrete social relationships. ex considers womens experiences in male dominated societies

case studies

in depth analysis of a single event or individual. people argue it doesnt provide enough evidence to make a generalized conclusion because one person does not verify a pattern

hawthorne effect

people change their behavior because they know they are being watched as a part of a study

value neutrality

practice of remaining impartial during a study. cant let personal values shape interpretation

code of ethics

1. Maintain objectivity and integrity in research

2. Respect subjects’ rights to privacy and dignity

3. Protect subject from personal harm

4. Preserve confidentiality

5. Seek informed consent

6. Acknowledge collaboration and assistance

7. Disclose sources of financial support

how does culture connect

cultural universals that relate to human survival (food, shelter, etc) and shared experiences (birth, death, illness)

ethnocentrism

your culture is better than others

cultural relativism

the idea that values, knowledge and behavior must be understood i their own cultural context. accept all cultures as equally valid- have an open mind and be willing to adapt to new values

xenocentrism

opposite of ethnocentrism. another culture is superior to ones own

cultural imperealism

imposition of ones own culture on others. ex european colonialism and residential schools

material culture

physical things like cars, ac

nonmaterial culture

ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of a society. ex giving people space on a subway. emphasis on symbols, values, and beliefs

technological determinism

material culture becoming nonmaterial culture. ex phones were originally just physical but led to internet culture

intangible cultural heritage

traditions and expression, language, performing arts, social practices, festivals, knowledge

cultural ethics

what a culture thinks is important

ideal culture

values portray an ideal culture, the standards society would like to live up to. no accidents, racial tension, etc

real culture

trying to address the issues

sanctions

form of social control, ways to encourage conformity to norms. can be negative or positive

formal norms

codified, written down. support social institutions like the military or school

informal norms

looser, less binding norms. more contextual

mores

norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group. often have a religious foundation and there are serious consequences for violation

folkways

norms without any moral underpinnings. direct appropriate behavior in day to day practices

sapir whorf hypothesis

aka linguistic relativity. people experience their world through their language and understand their world through the cultural meanings embedded in the language. ex 13 is bad luck in american culture

high culture

things that elites enjoy

low culture`

things the low class enjoys

pop culture

things most people enjoy. broad appeal and sometimes low culture

subculture

special interest cultures within the main culture, generally aligned with the dominant culture

counterculture

special interest cultures that oppose main culture. can lead to social change like blm or womens voting movement

diffusion

happens naturally as cultures come into contact with each other

globalization

when one culture imposes itself on another

innovations

replace older ways of carrying out tasks. shapes cultural values and leads to generational gaps. ex phones

culture lag

time that passes between introduction of material culture and its social acceptance

functionalists on culture

societies need culture to maintain the functioning system

conflict on culture

reinforcing dominant societal culture and issues of privilege

symbolic on culture

culture is created and maintained by the ways people interact and individuals interpret each others actions

preindustrial society

before the industrial revolution. economic production was limited to the amount of labor a human can provide

hunter gatherer

depends on the environment and hunted and foraged. nomadic, moved to new areas when resources ran out

pastoral

relied on the domestication of animals. bred livestock for food, clothes, transport. nomadic because they followed their animals

horticultural

areas where rainfall allowed them to grow stable crops. similar to hunter gatherers but were able to start permanent settlements

agricultural

permanent tools for survival. resources were more plentiful (agricultural revolution) and social classes became divisive

feudal

lords hired vassals to manage their land for food and protection

industrial societies

steam power, gas, lights. urban centers in cities resulted from tech and increased productivity. people experienced overcrowding and poverty. sociology was born

postindustrial society

information societies are based on the production of info and services. more likely to be sellers of services rather than producers of goods ex software programmers. social classes are divided by access to education

collective conscience

communal beliefs, morals, and attitudes of a society

social integration

the process where newcomers are welcomed into society

social facts

elements of society and social forces are real and exist outside the individual

what are industrial societies run by

organic solidarity- based around an acceptance of economic and social differences. instead of punishing people for being different, people can coexist