Soci Final exam

What is a theory?

A theory is a potential explanation for something.

What are the two types of variables?

Independent and Dependant

What is an independent variable?

Outcome of interest

What is a deductive approach?

\n A) Starts with an existing theory 

B)Go to its conceptual arguments

C) Conceptual arguments >>testable hypotheses 

D) Collect info/data about the variables 

E) A little analysis of the data to see if we have support for our hypothesis and by association for our conceptual 

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What is an inductive Approach?

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A) Begin with data, then the theory emerges! 

B) Get info from people 

C) Analyze data looking for common patterns, themes etc. 

D)Uses themes to formulate conceptual arguments 

E)Voila>>theory emerges 

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Theory is a…

Ongoing process

What is grand theory?

Very ambitious, trying to explain ALL human behavior with one set of ideas **DEDUCTIVE** 

What is micro theory?

Not very ambitious. Very limited aspect of human behavior **INDUCTIVE** 

What is a middle-range theory

a General class of human behaviour 

What are macro-structural theories?

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Common denominator that human behavior is determined by societal level factors.

What are examples of macro-structural theories?

things outside their control like- social institutions, social group membership, norms, ideologies, etc.) 

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What is structural functionalism?

Structure of society and how that structure functions

What is the first argument for SF?

A society is made up of interrelated social institutions 

Second argument of SF?

Each social institution provides functions considered essential for the survival of society

Third argument of SF?

Each social institution must be functioning properly individually and with the other social institutions to have social order

Fourth Argument of SF?

Must be organized based on **meritocracy** 

Fifth argument of SF?

Social order/ stability is TOP priority. To maintain it, we need a share social conscience-agreement (consensus) on what is right and wrong in society (shared moral order) 

Sixth Argument of SF?

Parents must teach their kids society’s shared values.

Seventh Argument of SF?

Conflict of any kind is bad!

SF believe social change must be

Slow and Controlled.

Durkheim’s influence on SF

\n 1) Organic solidarity

2) Not wanting rapid social change because it causes problems in IR 

3) Meritocracy

4) Social order as ideal state 

5) SF intergenerational traditions is like mechanical solidarity 

6) Moral tone 

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Weber’s Influence on SF

Organization of social institutions, bureaucracy.

Instrumental and expressive roles are called the:

**traditional gender roles** 

What type of theory is SF

Grand theory

SF was the dominant macro structural theory in sociology for the:

immediate **Post WWIII period** 

**Civil Rights Movement** challenged:

racial order (black/white)

**The Second Wave of the Women’s Movement** challenged:

existing order between men and women 

**Youth Movement-Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll** challenged:

youth and authority of parents 

What was the backlash against SF called?

Conflict Theory

CT say SF (1):

ignores the important issue of power relationships between social groups in society.

CT argues that SF (2):

focus on **meritocracy** actually promotes and reinforces __prejudice__ (negative attitudes) and discrimination in society 

CT say conflict is NOT

necessarily a bad thing

First Conflict Theory Argument:

Society is made by struggles for scarce and valuable resources between powerful social groups and less powerful social groups.

First Conflict Theory Argument:

Differences reinforced by **dominant ideology**

CT wants to

address inequality, make social change, and make society a better place.

Social change will be achieved by(CF) (1)

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by Identifying systems of inequality and dominant ideologies reinforcing those systems and then act to reduce inequality 

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Social change will be achieved by (2)

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2. CT promotes this agenda for change: 

* First, underclass must realize they are being exploited (stop believing dominant ideology) 


* Then they will come together as a group 
* Rise up and demand change 
* This change will first benefit the disadvantaged and then society because inequality is now reduced! 

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CT is what type of theory?

A Grand Theory?

**KARL MARX**’s influence on CF

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* **Power, exploitation, oppression, inequality between social groups** 
* **Social change** 
* **AGENDA FOR CHANGE** 
* **Social justice** 


* **IDEOLOGY** 

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Webers influence on SF

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* **Ideology** 
* **Agenda to reduce social problems>>CT wants to reduce inequality** 

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Sometimes CT is called:

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The Conflict Paradigm

PARADIGM is:

A set of theories that share common ideas 

Within the **conflict paradigm** we will find many what theories?

Middle range theories.

__**Neo-Marxism**__ as Marx wanted:

Circumstances for workers improved since IR

Neo-Marxism

Economic inequality 

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Neo- Marxism had a concern for?

For global economic inequality- looking out for exploitation of poor countries by rich 

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__**Feminism=?**__

__**The Feminist Paradigm**__

Stereotypes are?

a generalization about a group of people that is taken for granted by the majority of people as TRUE when its not

Feminists are not:

extreme male hating people

The Feminist Paradigm theory one:

Men are privileged over woman

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The Feminist Paradigm theory two:

Women are privileged over men 

The Feminist Paradigm theory three

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Some men privileged over other men

The Feminist Paradigm theory four:

Where some women are privileged over other women 

The Feminist Paradigm theory five:

Where some SGS combinations are privileged over others

All feminist arguments share a common concern for?

reasons for inequality based on gender/SGS and reducing it.

__**First branch of the Feminist Paradigm**__

__**Liberal or Egalitarian**__- argued that in an IDEAL society everyone would have equal opportunity for post-secondary education and job of choosing 

__**Liberal or Egalitarian also argued that:**__

differences between men + women was caused by a lack of opportunity in public sphere 

Second Branch of the Feminist Paradigm:

2. __**Marxist Feminists**__ 

\- Capitalism has caused “gender” inequality in the public sphere—especially workplace>>today 

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Marxist Feminists: in a capitalistic system the **upper** layer/group is dominated by

Men-the richest and powerful entrepreneurs

Marxist Feminists: **Lowest** level is dominated by?

women especially in “pink collar” part-time jobs with low wages and no benefits 

Solution for __**Liberal or Egalitarian:**__

Provide more opportunities for women to go into uni and have a variety of occupations 

Solution for Marxist Feminists:

Get rid of capitalism and get to socialism>>communism

Third Branch of the Feminist Paradigm:

__**Radical Feminists or Root**__

__**Radical Feminists or Root argued that: first one.**__

Argued that gender inequality doesn’t just exist in public sphere but also in the private (home). They don’t like **traditional gender roles**.

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__**Radical Feminists or Root argued that: second one:**__

identify powerful ideology of patriarchy as cause of gender inequality

Patriarchy means:

men should be in powerful positions in both spheres 

SOLUTION for Radical Feminists

Get rid of patriarchy and replace it with humanistic ideology where men and women share responsibilities in both the public and private 

Fourth Branch of the Feminist Paradigm:

__**Cultural Feminists**__-believed **patriarchy** in public and private spheres is the reason for gender inequality 

Fifth Branch of the Feminist Paradigm:

Social Feminists- argued that a **combination** of capitalism and patriarchy is causing gender inequality 

Solution for Social Feminists:

Get rid of both capitalism and patriarchy.

Sixth Branch of the Feminist Paradigm:

__**Inclusive>>Intersectionality Feminism**__- Feminism cannot discuss “men” and “women” as if they were all the same. They aren’t **homogenous** groups! 

__**Inclusive>>Intersectionality Feminism**__ says we must look at:

“intersecting inequalities”

Queer theory is?

listening to the voices of SGS minorities 

SOLUTION to Inclusive/Intersectionality feminism

Modest>>they want baby steps of improvement of all systems of inequality 

Seventh approach to the Feminist Paradigm

Post-Modern Feminism- developed countries are living in a **postmodern era** where economies are dominated by the use of personal computer tech to process and store information 

Post-Modern Feminism is the biggest characteristic of?

extremely rapid social change.

Post-modernism rejects?

postmodern theory rejects positivism in favor of **chaos theory.**

__Micro Interpretive Foundational Theory__ is?

How we can create social meanings in social situations and use these interpretations to guide our behavior 

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__Micro Interpretive Foundational Theory__ is influenced by?

William Isaac Thomas + Dorothy Thomas--” Definition of the Situation” --Max Weber>>” Verstehen”George Herbert Mead. Herbert Blumer 

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Mead- U of Chicago proposed:

Proposed a totally nurture view on human behavior based on relationships between- how we think, who we are, and society.

After he died, his students published his ideas in an important book called?

**“Mind, Self and Society”** 

__**Herbert Blumer- U of Chicago**__ did not like-

deterministic macro structural explanations for human behavior 

Hubert Blumer published ideas as

**SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM** 

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbol means:

Anything in society that has shared meaning (2+ people know what it means) 

Meanings of symbols are possible because they are organized into “symbol” systems like: 

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* Language 
* Body language 
* Sign language 
* Braille 
* Music 

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SI Arguments (1):

We learn, use, and modify meanings of symbols in interaction with others to guide our behavior 

Si Argument (2):

We can create this subjective reality (from social meanings of symbols) because of the unique ability of the “self” 

__**“The Looking Glass Self”**__

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1. Ability to imagine how we look to others 


2. Imagine how others are judging how we look 


3. In respond to the judgments, we choose how to behave 

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Where do we get reflexive ability?

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* We must develop reflexive ability 


* Geroge Herbet Mead talked about the development of the “Reflexive Self” or reflexive ability 

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The KEY to develop **reflexive ability** is:

the understanding of social roles

Self develops stage one:

__**Pre Play/ Prepatory Stage**__ 

* 0-2ish 


* Babies are born with reflexive ability-but during the first couple years of life, they learn language 

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Self develop stage two:

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2. __**Play Stage**__ 

* 2-6ish 
* Children start to develop reflexive ability when they understand one role (usually seen in their play) 

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Play stage two “role” :

**“The Significant Other”**-Mead would say reflexive ability begins when a child takes on the role of the significant other 

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Self develop stage 3:

__**Game Stage**__-

* 6+ 
* Full reflexive ability when a person understands many roles simultaneously AND how these roles come together to produce a situation 

The Generalized Other

* **The Generalized Other**= Interplay of roles that make up any social situation 
* Mead says the “mature self” arises when the **Generalized Other** is internalized 

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__**SI Arguments**__ for Self devleop stage:

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1. **How we learn, use, modify use of symbols...** 


2. **We create subjective realities because of unique ability** 


3. **Understanding roles in developing reflexive ability** 

**The Scientific Enterprise:**

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* Understanding of scientific research methodology 

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__**Research methodology:**__

Academic field that studies philosophy and methods of knowledge building.

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__**Three Traditional Main Topics:**__

1. **SOCIAL PROCESSES** 


2. **Social problems/issues (stratification, crime + deviance)** 


3. **SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS** 

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