Sociology Exam 1

Structural Functionalism

A sociological paradigm that views society as a system of interdependent connected parts, asking how social institutions create and preserve social order and stability.

Émile Durkheim

A sociologist known for contributions to structural functionalism, particularly in understanding social order.

Conflict Theory

A sociological paradigm that views society as organized by competing interests between groups, particularly between those with power and resources and those without.

Karl Marx

A key figure in conflict theory who analyzed the struggles between different social classes.

Symbolic Interactionism

A sociological paradigm that views society as constructed through interactions that give shared meaning and interpretations of reality.

Max Weber

A sociologist associated with symbolic interactionism and the concept of social actions based on meanings.

Survey

A scientific research method that collects standardized data on human opinions, ideas, characteristics, and/or behaviors from a specific sample of a population.

Laboratory Experiment

A research method that involves testing a hypothesis under carefully controlled conditions to make causal claims.

Content Analysis

A research method that involves counting or describing patterns in media.

Meta-analysis

A statistical research method that combines and analyzes multiple independent studies to find an overall effect.

Qualitative Research Methods

Research methods focusing on non-numerical data, often aiming to understand meaning through interviews or observations.

Quantitative Research Methods

Research methods that use numerical data and mathematical analysis.

Informed Consent

A clear understanding of a study by participants regarding its purpose and procedures.

Social Network Analysis

Research focusing on mapping social ties and how individuals interact with each other.

Social Facts

Products of human interaction that exist externally and influence individual behavior.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to understand the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

A phenomenon where belief in a situation leads to its becoming true.

Dramaturgy

A sociological perspective that analyzes social life as a series of performances.

Labeling Theory

The idea that labels applied to individuals can influence their behavior and reinforce deviance.

Social Deviance

Behaviors and beliefs that violate social expectations and attract negative reactions.

Intersectionality

The interconnected nature of social categories such as race, class, and gender as applied to a given individual or group.

Bureaucracies

Organizations characterized by hierarchical structures, formal rules, and impersonal relationships.

McDonaldization

The process by which society becomes more like the fast-food chain, emphasizing efficiency, predictability, and calculability.

Cultural Relativism

The practice of viewing and understanding other cultures on their own terms without bias.

Ethnocentrism

The evaluation of other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.

Subculture

A smaller group within a larger culture that retains its own distinct values and practices.

Counter Culture

A culture that actively rejects and opposes the dominant cultural values.