Soc 100 Test 3 Key Terms

What assertions about research are made by Babbie?

What assertions about research are made by Babbie?

Babbie: The Importance of Social Research:
-Figure out what's true and not true
-Disprove the obvious --> Take the status quo and challenge it

What assertions about research are made by Best?

Joel Best: Damn Lies & Statistics

Just because things are in statistics does not mean it's not fishy

What is the difference between Positivism and Verstehen as approaches to research?

Positivism - "objective"; uncovering natural laws
Verstehen - "subjective"; understanding the experience of the participants

What happened in 1850?

Martineu: descriptive approach ('Empirically grounded, narratively vivid' description of the principles governing social life)

What happened in 1900?

Quantitative research: Durkheim, Du Bois

What happened in 1930?

Chicago School of Sociological Research: Participant/Observer method

What happened in 1950?

Statistics

What happened in 1975?

Combinations & secondary analyses

Quantitative Research

Surveys:
- Quality depends on having right people, right questions
- Can describe or explain or both
- What they do well...(size)
- What they do poorly...(depth)
Experiments:
- Lab/Field experiments
- Problem (e.g., psych experiments: Milgram, Stanford)
- Treat "real" like an experiment

Qualitative Research

Ethnography (Participant Observer):
- Roots in anthropology
- hard to repeat precisely
- may not be "representative"
- Researcher's focus is selective
- Researcher may "go native"
Life history/Oral history
Case Study

Four examples of where and why sociological research is used

Public Sector (government) - To understand social problems and formulate policy
Private Sector (business) - To understand groups for better marketing and public relations
Education Sector (research U's) - to advance knowledge
Non-Profit Sector (NGOs) - To improve society

What is they key trend in the US economy over the past 30 years that Stiglitz identifies and discusses?

Joseph Stiglitz asserts that our economic inequality has become too great. This happened because of certain "market events" AND: because of the way the government (and society at large) responded to those events.

What is "Trickle Down" economic theory? Does Stiglitz agree or disagree with it?

- Investing in the upper class [i.e. the job creators] causes them to increase business and create benefits [jobs] for those in the lower classes.
- Historical numbers simply don't bear this out. [Even the Ross says "Trickle down" doesn't work.]
- Trickle UP (benefit the rich by investing in the middle and lower classes) might work.
- Stiglitz disagrees with Trickle Down economic theory and believes governments work best when there is little or no government intervention

Recognize the key facts about US economic inequality stated in the Pew Research link. (6 facts)

1. Over the past 50 years, the highest earning 20% of U.S. households have steadily brought in a larger share of the country's total income.
2. Income inequality in the U.S. is the highest of all the G7 nations, according to the data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
3. The black-white income gap in the U.S. has persisted over time.
4. Overall, 61% of Americans say there is too much economic inequality in the country today, but views differ by political party and household income level.
5. The wealth gap between America's richest and poorer families more than doubled from 1989 to 2016.
6. Middle-class incomes have grown at a slower rate than upper-tier incomes over the past five decades.

What is the role of education in opportunity for Americans?

- Education DOES help to provide opportunity, but the rich get a better education
- Wealthy kids without degrees still do better than poor kids with degrees

Define the Gini coefficient. APPROXIMATELY what is the US coefficient in 2022 (A: 0.43 - 0.48.) What is a good/bad Gini Coefficient?

Gini Coefficient: Everyone's income is equal = 0. One person gets all the money = 1.0. Below 0.3 is good; above 0.5 is bad, Current: 0.43 to 0.48.

In analyzing group income differences, which is the most important factor for women? For African Americans?

For women: Industry & occupation: 51%
For African Americans: Education & Workforce experience: 52%
Is this the correct fact?????

What is the effect of sexuality on pay (up, down, the same) for gay & bisexual women?

Gay and bisexual women earn approximately the same as other women.

What is the effect of sexuality on pay (up, down, the same) for gay men?

Gay and bisexual men earn 10-32% less than similarly qualified heterosexual men.

What is the effect of sexuality on pay (up, down, the same) for transgender women?

Earnings fell by 30%

What is the effect of sexuality on pay (up, down, the same) for transgender men?

Earnings rose slightly.

How does Stiglitz blame US economic inequality on society's (and specifically the government's) response to market-based inequalities - know examples 2, 5, 6, 7.

(2) We have taken away power from the unions, which work to protect workers.
(5) Taxes have been reduced for the rich, especially capital gains taxes. As a result, the rich pay a lower percent of taxes on new wealth than average citizens.
(6) Corporate taxes as a percentage of GDP have decreased.
(7) "Expenditures programs" have not been increase to help the poor; they are being decreased

The CATEGORIES of action Stiglitz would take to reduce US economic inequality. KNOW I. A&B; IIA; and III. A,C,D,E

I.A - Curb Excesses at the Top - Level the Playing Field
I.B - Curb Excesses at the Top - Tax Reform
II.A - Help the Rest
III.A - Political Reform - Campaign Finance Reform
III.C - Require Voting
III.D - Make Registration/Voting Easier
III. E - Reduce Gerrymandering

What are the two scenarios that Stiglitz describes as the alternative futures of the US?

Either...
Reform: Moving closer to "Liberty & Justice for all"
- The 99% will realize they have been duped, OR
- The 1% will realize that reform benefits them, too
OR
Current Trend Worsens:
- Dual economy
- Possible popular violence

Activism

Activism is an intentional effort to create change
Activism is one type of "Collective Behavior"
Other types include: crowds, panic, riots, fads, fashion, hysterical contagion, scapegoating

What is the relationship of activism to theory and research?

Theory <---> Research
^
Action

What is Marx's word for action in the world?

Marx called activism praxis

Recognize categories of physical world activism.

Consciousness Raising
Community Building
Lobbying
Media activism
Propaganda
Economic Activism (Boycott, Divestment)
Protest
Strike Action
Non-Violent Confrontation
Violent Confrontation
Revolution

The three levels of Milbrath's Hierarchy

Gladiatorial
Transitional
Spectator

Digital Gladiatorial Activities

-Data Activism
- Exposure
- Hacktivism

Digital Transitional Activities

-Political consumerism
- Digital petitions
- Botivism
- E-funding

Digital Spectator Activities

-Clicktivism
- Metavoicing
- Assertion

Clictivism (Slacktivism)
(Spectator Activities)

endorses/advocates by "liking," upvoting or following an activist post or blog. Individual is remote, detached, does not have original voice; requires few resources. BUT a large volume of "clicks" can add legitimacy to a cause.

Metavoicing (echo chamber)
(Spectator Activities)

sharing, retweeting, reposting, and commenting on another's post. Reinforces ideas/values. Individuals adds their voice, enhancing (or detracting from!) the original message. Impact is based on the size of the individual's social network and their status as an influencer.

Assertion (content creation)
(Spectator Activities)

video, audio, image, text. Still low resources but more skill. Social Movement Organization (SMOs) often rely on "top-down" messaging and under-employ this grassroots method. The risk: individual content creators could go off message.

political consumerism (boycotting - buycotting)
(Transitional Activities)

attempting to influence the activities or political stance of commercial organizations. Moderate investment of effort and resources. The impact is often more "promotional" than direct: news of the economic action goes viral and "promotes" the cause.

digital petitions
(Transitional Activities)

Government sponsored (e.g., "We the People"). A response is guaranteed if a minimum number of citizens sign. The effort is for the creator and implementer of the petition, not the signers. Government response is unpredictable. This is at least another "promotional" effort.

Botivism (virtual activism)
(Transitional Activities)

"bot" + "activism." Applications that prod action, ask for money, share information, even respond to trolling. Medium resources, much less effort than human counterparts. A big effect for limited investment.

E-funding
(Transitional Activities)

Providing revenue for a cause. Ranges from donation buttons and online auctions to hacking accounts and ransomware. Impersonal, does not require deep commitment. Individual contributions are seldom very impactful. Cryptocurrency activities have high potential.

Data Activism
(Gladiatorial Activities)

(Goes beyond advocating for individuals' control over date, and beyond data philanthropy), Volunteers rescue, preserve, and disseminate open data when governments refuse to share data or remove it.
Requires time, skills, computer power, storage
Not advocating a particular position; working for freedom/preservation of information
Government response is unpredictable. This is at least another "promotional" effort.

Exposure
(Gladiatorial Activities)

Unauthorized "leaking" or distribution of confidential information. Done by those with or without legitimate access. May or may not be politically motivated. High effort, high risk. Can be useful (determining ethical behavior of an organization) or detrimental (providing information to bad actors; information taken out of context)

Hactivism
(Gladiatorial Activities)

hacking to achieve social or political goals. Exposes information, destroys data, or disrupts operations. May target government, organizations, or individuals. Requires high skill level, advanced hardware; high risk. Impact can be very high.

Definition of social movement

- A social movement is an organized group that acts with continuity and coordination to promote or resist change in society. Social movements are the most organized form of collective behavior.

Aberle's types of social movements

"Alternative" - change one behavior; AA
"Redemptive" - Personal transformation movements - hippie, new age, religions
"Reform" - social change movements - environmental, civil rights movements
"Revolutionary" - completely change society - reactionary movements, e.g. Aryan Nation

Michigan theorist famous for early social movement theory (Resource Mobilization).

Mayer Zald

Key Social Movement Theories.

Mass Society Theory
Relative Deprivation Theory
Resource Mobilization Theory
Rational Choice Theory
New Social Movement Theory

Mass Society Theory

Kornhauser - based on Durkheim: Modern anomie (sense of being detached from personal social groups) makes non-elite individuals feel alienated, and they are therefore more likely to take extreme action against elites.

Relative Deprivation Theory

Robert Merton, Walter Runciman: Asserts that people will organize or join social movements in order to obtain things of which they feel they are being deprived that are considered essential in their d society (e.g. resources, rights, voice, status).

Resource Mobilization Theory

Mayer Zald - U/M: Explores how movements "gain momentum by successfully garnering resources, competing with other movements, and mobilizing their available resources." Also notes how movements are connected to each other.

Rational Choice Theory

Karl-Dieter Opp: Asserts that people will make conscious choices to organize and seek change that is in their own self-interest.

New Social Movement Theory

William Gamson, former U/M: Stresses cultural factors rather than structural factors: the importance of meaning systems in mobilizing collective action, and how new identities are formed within social movements.

Jane Addams

- Social change through service and reform

- Addams' sociological writing derived from her "hands-on" activism, working with the poor of Chicago, especially immigrants, especially women

- America must raise our moral concerns from the personal level to the social (ethics). This requires a better understanding of others' experiences: sociology can help. (Democracy and Social Ethics)

- Our ethics are reflected in the way we provide for the disadvantaged. We need to improve in this area. (Democracy and Social Ethics)

- Economic deprivation in childhood skews the individual's perspective (Democracy and Social Ethics)

- Our current mode of government is intended to enforce individual compliance with 18th century ideals. Instead, we need to examine the social factors that produce deviance (Democracy and Social Ethics)

Saul Alinsky

- Social change through confrontation and conflict

- He is generally considered the father of community organizing

- Organized Chicago neighborhoods for political action, beginning in the 1930s. Served as a precursor or 1960s grassroot political movements.

- Later organized stockholders to lend their votes to "proxies", who would vote at annual stockholders meetings to support social justice (Precursor of shareholder activism)

- Alinsky called mainstream liberalism "passive" and "ineffective"

- In Rules for Radicals, the most effective means are whatever will achieve the desired ends.

- Create mass organizations to seize power.

- Take hot, impulsive passions and turn them to calculated, purposeful, effective actions.

- Use power for a more equitable distribution of the means of life.

- The core truth of the activist: people have the power to act and will ultimately reach the right decisions.

- All other truths are relative and changing.

- The world is an arena of power politics moved primarily by self-interest. Morality is a rhetorical rationale for expedient action and self-interest.

- Organized religion is materially solvent and spiritually bankrupt.

What sociologist does Terry see as the balance between Addams and Alinski?

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Who saw in Gandhi and Jesus a model for non-violent confrontation.

What are frequently used measures of health? How is the US doing on these measures?

Amenable Mortality
Life Expectancy at Birth (a decade ago)
Infant Mortality
Heart Disease

How is the US doing on the different measures of health?

Amenable Mortality - US last among developed nations (except for cancer)

Life Expectancy at Birth (a decade ago) - 37th overall

Other Measures of US Health - We're 26th

Infant Mortality - is a major measure of a country's health system and the US ranks near the bottom here. The US infant mortality rate is 6.1 deaths for every 1,000 live births, well below the OECD average of 4 deaths per 1,000.

Heart Disease - may be the most important measure of health care for rich countries - it's the leading cause of death in most, including the United States. Again, the U.S. falls below the OECD average, with heart disease deaths closer to those in Poland and Mexico than in Japan, Korean, or France.

What are "Structural Inequities"?

Structural Inequities - the systematic disadvantage of one social group over another

What are "Social Determinants of Health"?

Social Determinants of Health - Conditions in social environments (places where people live, learn, work, play, worship, etc.) that affect health risks, health outcomes, and quality of life outcomes.

How are structural inequities and social determinants of health connected?

Structural Inequities use policy, law, and cultural norms to sort people...into social environments that are rich or poor in the social determinants of health.

What are 3 current examples of government provided (socialized) health care in US? Can you identify what group is served by each?

Medicaid (for the poor): Republicans want to get rid of it; haven't been fully successful
Medicare (for people above the age of 60)
Tricare (for service members and veterans)

Factors that contribute to unequal distribution of healthcare

(a) imbalance of primary care and specialist physicians;
(b) health insurance attached to employment;
(c) unequal distribution by identity groups & region.

Key issues that contribute to high cost of US healthcare.

The greatest contributors to skyrocketing health care costs are:
- The soaring costs of hospital care
- The rise in fees for the services of physicians

Recognize the 8 practices that experts say would improve and help reduce US healthcare cost (that do not involve changing who pays for the healthcare)

1. Emphasize primary care
2. Stick to what works ("standard of care")
3. Emphasize prevention
4. IM efficiencies through IT
5. Manage chronic disease
6. Import/negotiate for cheaper drugs
7. Pay providers less
8. Consumer-directed health care

What were they key provisions of the Massachusetts Plan?

- private-market based
- all must have coverage
- employers must help
- "broker" agencies will help match people to plans, government will subsidize the poor in purchasing health care

Full answer from slides:
1. Individual coverage mandate for all state residents
2. Fair Share Assessment for Employers
3. "Commonwealth Connector"
4. Sliding Scale Subsidies
5. Medicaid Expansion for Children

What did Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) try to do for the whole US BEYOND what the Massachusetts plan provided in its state?

Strengthen the Healthcare Workforce

What is the current state of ACA?

Obamacare Now: Still Here but Wounded
Trump administration changes
1. No Mandate
2. States may require work for Medicaid
3. No goverment support for insurance companies that sustain costs
4. "Skinny" plans ok
5. No insurance company incentives

What does President Biden want to do about US Healthcare?

Biden wants to un-do the damage Trump did to ACA and strengthen it further. Still a private/public hybrid. Republican opponents want to return to more free-market form. Democratic opponents generally want "single payer" = Medicare for all = Canadian healthcare system

Single Payer

the Canadian system = proposed US "Medicare for All
Hospital/doctor bills FIRST go to government, which pays basic coverage for everyone. Unpaid balance returned to patient. Patient may have private insurance coverage to cover part or all of balance, or pays "out-of-pocket."

Can you explain how a single payer system differs from the current US system? How it differs from the English system?

Differs from the current US system because government would
literally pay all the bills.
How does it differ from the English system????

Per Michele Wucker, what are the differences between migrant-sending and migrant-receiving nations?

Migrant-sending nations: developing nations who export workers, hoping they will send money home. Offering these migrants dual citizenship is one way to retain their loyalty.
Migrant-receiving nations: developED nations with older populations who need to fill their work force and tax base. Offering these migrants voting rights is one way to reward their participation.

What is the law of the soil?

Born here

What is the law of the blood?

Born to qualified parents

What were the major US policies about immigration from 1882-1986? (You can omit The Gentleman's Agreement)

1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: no Chinese immigrants or naturalizations for 10 years. Extended again in '92 and after 1900.
1921 - National Origin System: purpose was to block immigrants from South Europe and Asia, quotas favored Northern Europe
1965 - Immigration & Nationality Act ("Hart-Cellar Act"): less restrictive, intent was to reunite families, but protect US labor by favoring those with high skills, effect was to shift origin of immigrants
1986 - Immigration Reform & Control Act: Amnesty to 2.7M undocumented aliens who were long-term residents of US (10+ yrs). Made it illegal to hire undocumented aliens (I-9 form). Resulted in 400,000 deportations annually.

Approximately what percent of the US population is currently foreign born? Is this at an all-time high?

The percentage of US residents who were not born here (13.7) is not much higher than it was in 1850 (10%) and is LESS than it was in 1900 (about 15%). So, this is not an all-time high.

From what nation is the highest percentage of foreign-born Americans?

Mexico

From what region is the highest percentage of foreign-born Americans?

Asia

From what region is the highest percentage of new immigrants to the US?

Asia

What is chain immigration?

Immigrants who move based on stories from relatives and friends who have gone ahead.

Nativism definition

discrimination against the foreign-born

Xenophobia definition

fear of strangers

Sinophobia definition

fear of Chinese

Islamophobia definition

fear of Islam or Muslims

Acculturation definition

acquire language and cultural fluency, but retain key elements of the immigrants' culture

What are the two approaches/goals of intransigent nativism?

- Attempts to exclude (immigration laws)
- "Forces Assimilation" -- attempts to Americanize as quickly as possible (English "immersion")

What are the three major issues about immigration that are addressed in recent legislative attempts and Presidential actions? Which of the three was emphasized by Pres. Trump? Which of the three is being emphasized by Pres. Biden?

1- find ways to regularize undocumented immigrants
2- improve current system for legal immigration
3- enforcement
Trump = enforcement
Biden = legalizing undocumented

What is DACA and what is its current status (Fall 2022)?

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): no deportation for those who came as minors and meet certain conditions; possible road to a work visa.
Currently, there is a debate over constitutionality. No one new can join the program.

What is Title 42 and what is its current status?

Title 42 says asylees can be turned away at the border with no trial
Biden pushed the deadline back to May 2023.
Doesn't seem like any more asylees are coming now that deadline is up

What is DREAMER and what is its current status?

Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
Introduced in 2001
Currently being reintroduced in the senate, not passed yet
Pathway to full citizenship for children of immigrants

Johnson might ask:

1. How is the issue affected by or affecting culture?
2. How is the issue affected by or affecting structure?
3. How are paths of least resistance at work?

Marx might ask:

1. What are the material/economic dimensions of this issue? Specifically, does class affect the issue?
2. Is one group dominating another group?
3. Are institutions (super structure) in some way helping the "bourgeoisie"?

Weber might ask:

1. Does "status" play a role in this issue?
2. Are cultural issues affecting this issue (especially religious ones?)
3. Is there an interplay between the material and the cultural?
4. Is "rationalization" involved? (increasing efficiency through math/science/logic)

Durkheim might ask:

1. What function is being played by the various social phenomena associated with this issue?

2. Can we see "social facts" exerting an issue?

3. Is a group exerting influence on its members in some way?

4. Does the situation represent an equilibrium period or a period of change/evolution/dysfunction?

Mead might ask:

1. How is socialization at work in this issue?
2. What are the meanings associated with various social phenomena related to this issue? How were they "constructed"? Do they need to be changed?

Du Bois might ask:

1. How is the "color line" affecting this situation?
2. Is there some way in this situation that outside groups are unable to accurately perceive the experience of Black people?
3. Is race in some way tied to class or class conflict in this issue?

Gilman might ask:

1. Are economic realities in some way distorting male-female relations in this situation?
2. Are women subordinate to men in this situation? If so, what is the result?
3. What actions might correct the problems in this situation?