Introduction to Sociology and Research Methods

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering subdisciplines of sociology, key sociological theories, prominent thinkers, and social research methodologies.

Sociology

A science focused on society that studies social structures, interpersonal relationships, culture, and social behavior.

Sociology of Culture

A subdiscipline of sociology that examines culture as a system of values, symbols, and social norms.

Rationalization (Max Weber)

A concept in the sociology of culture suggesting that culture is a set of meanings and symbols that only make sense to those who understand them.

Sociology of Politics

A field focused on social phenomena related to politics, governments, bureaucracy, and power dynamics.

Sociology of the City (Urban Sociology)

The study of cities as social spaces, including their social structure, urban culture, and phenomena related to city life.

Inductive Method (Induction)

A research approach that moves from specific, detailed observations to the discovery of general principles.

Deductive Method (Deduction)

A research approach that starts with general principles (theories) and moves toward observations to test theoretical predictions.

Idiographic Explanation

An explanation focused on a specific, individual case, limited to that particular instance.

Nomothetic Explanation

A generalized type of explanation that covers a broader range of experiences and seeks relationships between variables for a class of situations.

Independent Variable

The variable in social research that is considered the cause of changes in another variable.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is influenced by or depends on the independent variable.

Interdisciplinarity of Sociology

The characteristic of sociology where it uses methods and theories from multiple fields such as psychology, anthropology, economics, and history.

Holistic Approach

A perspective assuming that individuals and social groups constitute a whole that can only be studied within the context of a wider society.

Structural-Functional Theory

A sociological perspective that treats society as a system where components like institutions and groups cooperate to maintain balance and overall functioning.

Social Institution

A relatively permanent socio-cultural arrangement or organized activity satisfying specific collective needs under social control.

Frankfurt School

The Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt, known for critical theory and a critique of culture as a tool for elite domination.

Social Risk

The probability of an event occurring that reduces an individual's or group's assets or increases their future financial needs.

Self-insurance Strategy

A strategy for managing social risks by limiting the material consequences of a risk once it occurs.

Self-protection Strategy

A social risk management approach focused on reducing the probability that a risk will occur.

Social Inequality

A socio-economic phenomenon linked to unequal access to power, resources, or income within specific social groups.

Pauperization

A social process involving the lowering of the living standard of individuals or groups, often moving them into the proletariat or underclass.

Social Exclusion

Social phenomena leading to the marginalization, isolation, or rejection of individuals or groups from society due to factors like poverty or discrimination.

Digital Society

A complex phenomenon where various aspects of social life like economy, politics, and communication are linked to information and communication technologies (ICT).

Civil Society

A sphere of social life where citizens act independently of state power to influence public policy and public decisions.

Social Fact (Émile Durkheim)

A phenomenon that occurs in society independently of the individual's will, which the sociologist should study as an objective 'thing'.

Mechanical Solidarity

Cohesion in primitive societies based on similarity between individuals and a uniform system of norms captured in criminal law.

Organic Solidarity

Cohesion in developed societies based on differentiation, a complex division of labor, and mutual interdependence.

Egoistic Suicide

A type of suicide occurring when an individual feels excessive detachment from society or a lack of emotional ties.

Altruistic Suicide

A type of suicide occurring when an individual is overly integrated into society and sees the act as a heroic duty for the community.

Anomie

A state of normlessness and despair caused by rapid changes in the modern world where traditional values and life patterns break down.

Positivism

A 19th-century philosophical movement asserting that science based on observation, measurement, and experiment is the only way to obtain knowledge.

3B Syndrome

The negative side effects of the 1989 Polish transformation: Unemployment ($Bezrobocie$), Poverty ($Bieda$), and Homelessness ($Bezdomność$).

Humanistic Sociology (Florian Znaniecki)

A sociological direction where the objects of study are human culture, values, and meanings.

Ideal Typology (Znaniecki)

Concepts dividing culture into four types: Nominal, Value-based, Real, and Ideal.

Chicago School

A sociological trend emphasizing empirical research on urban spaces, social ecology, and the relationship between individuals and their environment.

Concentric Circles Theory

A theory by Ernest W. Burgess describing how social groups form in cities and change based on distance from the center.

Conflict Paradigm

An analytical approach viewing social behavior as a process of constant conflict and struggle between groups with opposing interests.

Feminist Perspective

An interdisciplinary approach analyzing social phenomena through the lens of gender inequality and social systems like patriarchy.

Gemeinschaft (Ferdinand Tönnies)

A communal bond based on 'natural' or 'organic' will, characterized by emotions, proximity, and tradition.

Gesellschaft (Ferdinand Tönnies)

An associational bond based on 'rational' or 'arbitrary' will, characterized by naming goals, calculation, and contracts.

Formal Sociology (Georg Simmel)

An approach that focuses on the 'forms' of social interaction, such as hierarchy and subordination, rather than the 'content' of those interactions.

Pragmatism (George Herbert Mead)

A theory suggesting that human behaviors and values are shaped through practical social interactions and situational contexts.

Globalisation

The process of integrating economies, cultures, and politics on a worldwide scale, leading to increased interaction across borders.

Culture Industry (Theodor Adorno)

A concept viewing mass culture as a tool for controlling the masses by standardizing culture and turning art into a commodity.

Social Role

A set of norms and expectations directed at a person based on their position or status within a society.

Problem Statement (Research Problem)

Specific questions or issues that researchers aim to address through scientific investigation.

Pilot Study

A procedure for planning and trying out research questions and questionnaires before full-scale data collection.

Triangulation

A research strategy that combines multiple approaches (usually qualitative and quantitative) to cross-check results.

Systematic Sampling

A sampling method involving selecting every $K$-th element from a population, where $K = N/n$ ($N$ being population size and $n$ being sample size).

Social Capital (Robert Putnam)

The features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trust, that create externalities for the entire community.