Sociology: Global Interdependence, Sociological Theory, and Research Methods

Vocabulary flashcards defining key sociological terms, theoretical paradigms, historical contexts, and research methods based on the lecture notes.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness among societies and economies through technology, travel, communication, trade, and cultural exchange.

Outsourcing

The practice of moving jobs and labor opportunities from one country to another within the global economy.

The Enlightenment

A historical development that transformed Western society by emphasizing reason, science, individual rights, and human liberty.

The Renaissance

A historical period that encouraged new ways of thinking about individuals, society, knowledge, and human potential.

Industrial Revolution

A major historical transformation that altered production, work, cities, family life, and social relationships while increasing urbanization.

Auguste Comte

A French philosopher who argued that societies develop through three intellectual stages: the theological, metaphysical, and scientific or positive stage.

Theological stage

Auguste Comte's first stage of social development, in which social life and authority are explained through religion, gods, and supernatural forces.

Metaphysical stage

Auguste Comte's second stage of social development, where religious explanations are supplemented or replaced by abstract philosophical ideas such as natural rights and human reason.

Scientific or positive stage

Auguste Comte's third stage of social development, in which society is understood through observation, evidence, scientific reasoning, and systematic research.

Theory

A systematic explanation of social phenomena that provides an organized framework for explaining social reality.

Paradigm

A broad framework or theoretical approach that guides how researchers understand and study society.

Structural functionalism

A macro-level theoretical paradigm that views society as a system made up of interdependent parts working together to maintain stability, order, solidarity, and continuity.

Function

An element of society that contributes to social stability or integration.

Dysfunction

An element of society that disrupts social stability or prevents the system from operating effectively.

Macro-level orientation

A theoretical level of analysis that examines large institutions, broad social structures, and major patterns across entire societies.

Social conflict theory

A macro-level theoretical paradigm that views society as an arena of competition and inequality where groups compete for power, wealth, resources, and status.

Karl Marx

A major historical figure associated with conflict theory who analyzed capitalism, economic class conflict, and the unequal distribution of wealth and power.

Symbolic interactionism

A micro-level theoretical paradigm that views society as created and maintained through everyday social interaction, shared meanings, symbols, and language.

Micro-level orientation

A theoretical level of analysis that focuses on individuals, small groups, face-to-face interactions, and everyday behavior.

Positivist research

A scientific research orientation that begins with a theory or hypothesis, emphasizes measurable concepts, objectivity, empirical evidence, and cause-and-effect relationships.

Interpretive research

A research orientation focused on understanding the meanings people attach to their experiences, actions, and social worlds.

Critical research

A research orientation that examines inequality, domination, and power differences with the goal of exposing injustice and contributing to social change.

Experimental group

The group in an experiment that receives the specific intervention being tested.

Control group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the intervention, used as a baseline comparison.

Survey research

A research method that collects information by asking people standardized questions to describe opinions, behaviors, preferences, and demographic characteristics.

Population

The entire group that a researcher wants to study.

Sample

A smaller subset selected from a broader population for a research study.

Representative sample

A sample that accurately reflects the key characteristics of the larger population being studied.

Random sampling

A sampling method that gives every member of a population a systematic opportunity to be selected, increasing generalizability.

Observation

A research method that involves systematically watching and recording people's behavior in natural or everyday settings.

Participant observation

A research method where the researcher becomes directly involved in the setting or activities being studied.

Nonparticipant observation

A research method where the researcher observes participants without actively participating in their setting or activities.

Secondary data analysis

A research method that involves analyzing existing data previously collected by another researcher, institution, or organization.

Social institution

An organized structure in society that fulfills important social functions, such as family, education, government, religion, and the economy.