soc aice

What is Functionalism in sociology?

A consensus theory that sees society as a stable system where institutions work together to maintain social order.

Who introduced the concept of 'social facts'?

Émile Durkheim.

What are social facts?

External and collective forces that influence individual behavior, like laws or moral codes.

What is value consensus?

Shared norms and values that help maintain social stability.

What is anomie?

A state of normlessness, often during rapid social change or breakdown of norms.

What is the organic analogy?

Society is like a human body, where each part (institution) has a function and works together for the whole.

What is a manifest function?

An intended and obvious function of an institution (e.g., schools teach knowledge).

What is a latent function?

An unintended or hidden function (e.g., schools reinforce class divisions).

What is a criticism of Functionalism?

It ignores inequality and conflict; overemphasizes harmony.

What is the main focus of Marxism?

Class conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers).

What is false consciousness?

When the working class is misled to believe capitalism is fair (e.g., through media or education).

How do schools support capitalism according to Althusser?

By acting as Ideological State Apparatuses that teach obedience and conformity.

What do Marxists say about social policies like welfare?

They help maintain capitalism by reducing dissatisfaction without real change.

What is the Marxist solution to inequality?

Revolution to create a classless society.

What is patriarchy?

A system of male dominance in society.

What are the three waves of feminism?

1st – Suffrage, 2nd – Equal pay/reproductive rights, 3rd – Modern issues like #MeToo.

What does Liberal Feminism focus on?

Achieving gender equality through legal reforms (e.g., equal pay).

What is Radical Feminism's main view?

Patriarchy is deeply rooted; advocates for women-only spaces and cultural change.

What does Marxist Feminism argue?

Women’s domestic labor supports capitalism by reproducing labor power.

What is Intersectional Feminism?

Highlights how gender intersects with race, class, etc., to create unique forms of oppression.

What are Sylvia Walby’s Six Structures of Patriarchy?

State, Violence, Domestic labor, Paid work, Sexuality, Culture.

What is Symbolic Interactionism?

A micro-level theory focusing on how individuals give meaning to social interactions.

What is the 'looking-glass self'?

Cooley’s idea that we see ourselves through how others perceive us.

What is labeling theory (Becker)?

People become deviant when labeled that way by society, especially by powerful institutions like schools.

What is the self-fulfilling prophecy?

When a label leads to behavior that confirms the label.

What is a 'labeling career'?

The process through which a label becomes someone's master status (e.g., being seen as a 'criminal').

What is Goffman’s dramaturgy?

Life is like a performance, with 'front stage' (public role) and 'back stage' (private self) behavior.

What is a criticism of Interactionism?

Overlooks larger social structures (like class or gender); too focused on small-scale interactions.

What is Verstehen?

Understanding social behavior by putting yourself in others’ shoes (empathetic understanding).

What are Weber’s 4 types of social action?

Instrumental-rational, Value-rational, Traditional, Affectual.

What are Weber’s levels of explanation?

1. Structural causes (e.g., rise of capitalism), 2. Subjective meanings (e.g., Protestant work ethic).

What is Positivism?

Belief in studying society using scientific methods and quantitative data (e.g., surveys, statistics).

What is Interpretivism?

Focuses on understanding meaning through qualitative data (e.g., interviews, observations).

What are key features of Positivist research?

Objectivity, reliability, causality, large samples.

What are key features of Interpretivist research?

Verstehen, validity, small samples, in-depth data.

What is triangulation?

Using multiple methods (e.g., survey + interview) to improve reliability and validity.

Define reliability.

The ability to repeat research and get the same results.

Define validity.

How accurately the research reflects reality.

What is a hypothesis?

A testable prediction (e.g., 'High income leads to higher grades').

What is a pilot study?

A small-scale test of research methods before the full study.

What is ethnography?

Long-term immersion in a group to study its culture (e.g., living with a religious sect).

What is a case study?

A detailed study of one case or group (e.g., one school’s discipline policy).

What is longitudinal research?

Research conducted over a long period to track changes (e.g., following students over 10 years).

What is informed consent?

Participants agree to take part with full understanding of the study.

What is covert research?

Studying people without their knowledge (raises ethical issues).

Why is confidentiality important?

To protect participants’ identities and personal information.

What are practical issues in research?

Time, cost, access to participants, researcher’s skills.