Sociology Test 1

Sociology

The scientific study of social behavior and human groups.

Sociological imagination

An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, both today and in the past. By C.Wright Mills

Science

The body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation.

Natural Science

The study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change.

Social Science

The study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change.

Theory

In sociology, a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior.

Auguste Comte

Coined the term sociology, known as the founder of sociology

Herbert Spencer

Believed sociologists should not guide social reform as it could interfere with the natural development of society's most capable members to survive. Strong believer in Darwin's survival of the fittest.

Emile Durkheim

One of the first professors of Sociology in France. Known for his insistence that behavior must be understood within a larger social context. not just individualistic terms. Main interest was the consequences of work in modern Societies. Against Industrialization.

Anomie

Durkheim's term for the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective.

Max Weber

Believed we need to look at individuals and the meaning they make of there own behavior. Aim was to understand what meanings individual's give tot their actions.

Verstehen

The German word for "understanding" or "insight"; used by Max Weber to stress the need for sociologists to take into account the subjective meanings people attach to their actions.

Ideal Type

A construct or model for evaluating specific cases.

Karl Marx

Shared Durkheim and Weber's duel interests in abstract philosophical issues and the concrete reality of everyday life. With Engels attended a secret meeting of illegal coalition labor unions, communist league, and later prepared The Communist Manifesto.

Commonsense

The obvious based on our experience's; while sometimes accurate, is not reliable because it rests on commonly held beliefs rather than on systematic analysis of facts.

Marxs analysis

Conflict, society was fundamentally divides between two classes that clashed in pursuit of their own interests.

Double Consciousness

Coined by Dubois, The division of an individual's identity into two or more social realities.

Charles Horton Cooley

Shared the same desire of Durkheim, Weber and Marx to learn more about society. Preferred to use the sociological perspective to look at smaller units-intimate , face-to-face groups such as families, gangs and, friendship networks. Look-glass self

Jane Addams

1860-1935. Founder of Settlement House Movement called Hull House.

Robert Merton

Made a important contribution to the discipline by successfully combining theory and research. Produced a theory that is frequently cited in explanations of deviant behavior.

Innovators

According to Merton, are people who accept the goal of pursuing material wealth but use illegal means to do so, including robbery, burglary, and extortion.

Marcosociology

Merton; Sociological investigation that concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations.

Microsociology

Merton; Sociological investigation that stresses the study of small groups, often through experimental means.

Mesosociology

Mertion;An intermediate level of sociological analysis that focuses on formal organizations and social movements.

Global sociology

Merton: A level of sociological analysis that makes comparisons between entire nations, using entire societies as units of analysis.

Cultural capital

Pierre Bourdieu; Noneconomic goods, such as family background and education, which are reflected in a knowledge of language and the arts.

Social Capital

Pierre Bourdieu;The collective benefit of social networks, which are built on reciprocal trust.

Functionalist perspective

Talcott Parsons, A sociological approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability.

Conflict Perspective

A sociological approach that assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power or the allocation of resources, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation.

Feminist Perspective

A sociological approach that views inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization.

Interactionist perspective

A sociological approach that generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole.

Nonverbal communication

The sending of messages through the use of gestures, facial expressions, and postures.

Interactionism/symbolic interactionism

sociological framework for viewing humans as living in a world of meaningful objects. The "objects" may include material things, actions, other people, relationships, and even symbols.

Dramaturgical approach

A view of social interaction, popularized by Erving Goffman, in which people are seen as theatrical performers.

Applied sociology

he use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations.

Clinical sociology

The use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions.

Basic sociology

Sociological inquiry conducted with the objective of gaining a more profound knowledge of the fundamental aspects of social phenomena. Also known as pure sociology.

Globalization

The worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas.

Social Inequality

A condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power.

Scientific method

A systematic, organized series of steps that ensures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem.

Operational definition

An explanation of an abstract concept that is specific enough to allow a researcher to assess the concept.

Review of the Literature

examining relevant scholarly studies and information-researchers refine the problem under study, clarify possible techniques to be used in collecting data, and eliminate or reduce avoidable mistakes.

Hypothesis

A speculative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

Variable

A measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions.

Independent variable

The variable in a causal relationship that causes or influences a change in another variable.

Dependent variable

The variable in a causal relationship that is subject to the influence of another variable.

Sample

A selection from a larger population that is statistically representative of that population.

Random sample

A sample for which every member of an entire population has the same chance of being selected.

Validity

The degree to which a measure or scale truly reflects the phenomenon under study.

Reliability

The extent to which a measure produces consistent results.

Control variable

A factor that is held constant to test the relative impact of an independent variable.

Research design

A detailed plan or method for obtaining data scientifically.

Survey

A study, generally in the form of an interview or questionnaire, that provides researchers with information about how people think and act.

Interview

A face-to-face, phone, or online questioning of a respondent to obtain desired information.

Questionnaire

A printed or written form used to obtain information from a respondent.

Quantitative research

Research that collects and reports data primarily in numerical form.

Qualitative research

Research that relies on what is seen in field or naturalistic settings more than on statistical data.

Ethnography

The study of an entire social setting through extended systematic fieldwork.

Observation

A research technique in which an investigator collects information through direct participation, by closely watching a group or community.

Experiment

An artificially created situation that allows a researcher to manipulate variables.

Experimental group

The subjects in an experiment who are exposed to an independent variable introduced by a researcher.

Control group

The subjects in an experiment who are not introduced to the independent variable by the researcher.

Hawthorne effect

The unintended influence that observers of experiments can have on their subjects.

Secondary analysis

A variety of research techniques that make use of previously collected and publicly accessible information and data.

Content analysis

The systematic coding and objective recording of data, guided by some rationale.

Code of ethics

The standards of acceptable behavior developed by and for members of a profession.

Value neutrality

Max Weber's term for objectivity of sociologists in the interpretation of data.

Mean

A number calculated by adding a series of values and then dividing by the number of values.

Mode

The single most common value in a series of scores.

Median

The midpoint or number that divides a series of values into two groups of equal numbers of values.

Cross-tabulation

A table or matrix that shows the relationship between two or more variables.

Postivistim

August Comte; A belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry

Social Facts

Emile Durkheim; Ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that have an external influence, exist outside the individual.

Solidarity

How people in society are connected.

Collective Consciousness

Refers to a set of common belief's, values, and behaviors that are found with in society. Moral compass of society that influences the individuals consciousness.

Organic Solidarity

Urban and modern communities that are often more complex. Share some similar values but also disagree on many. Power of community diminishes and social bonds are weaker. Unity is maintained through law.

Egoistic Suicide

Durkheim; Individuals who are left to themselves and often feel a sense of isolation. They think purely of themselves. Their desires are not compatible with the authority of the social group they being in, causing them to not be socially integrated.

Altruistic Suicide

Durkheim; Individuals who are to integrated, and fully absorb social norms and believe in them. (ex: solider dying for country.)

Social integration

the degree to which people are tied to their social group

Zweckrational Action

Rational action in relation to a goal.

Wertartional Action

Action motivated by vaules

Affective/emotional action

Action based on emotions dictated by a state of mind

Traditional Action

Actions based on traditions or customs

Incorrigible Proposition

A belief that cannot be proven wrong and has become so much part of common sense that one continues to believe it even in the face of vast contrary evidence. (ex: flat earthers)

Correlation

exists when a change in one variable coincides with a change in the other

Causal Logic

Involves the relationship between a condition or variable and a particular consequence with one leading to the other.

Culture

The totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior.

Society

A fairly large number of people who live in the same territory, are relatively independent of people outside their area, and participate in a common culture.

Cultural universal

A common practice or belief found in every culture.

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to assume that one's own culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to all others.

Cultural relativism

The viewing of people's behavior from the perspective of their own culture.

Sociobiology

The systematic study of how biology affects human social behavior. Founded on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, survival of the fittest.

Language

An abstract system of word meanings and symbols for all aspects of culture; includes gestures and other nonverbal communication.

Norms

An established standard of behavior maintained by a society.

Law

Governmental social control.

Formal norm

A norm that has been written down and that specifies strict punishments for violators.

Informal norm

A norm that is generally understood but not precisely recorded.

Mores

Norms deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society.

Folkway

A norm governing everyday behavior whose violation raises comparatively little concern.

Sanction

A penalty or reward for conduct concerning a social norm.