Sociology Test

Sociology

The scientific study of human behavior and society, a social science

Sociological perspective

A fresh way of looking at familiar surroundings.

Macrosociology

The study of society as a whole, including towns, cities, and populations.

Microsociology

The study of individual human interactions with others.

Theoretical perspective

A set of assumptions about reality that inform the questions and answers in sociology.

Symbolic interactionism

A sociological theory that focuses on how individuals interact with one another.

Functionalism

A sociological theory that focuses on the structure of society.

Conflict theory

A sociological theory that focuses on the forces in society that promote competition and change.

Social norms

Unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society.

Auguste Comte

Credited as the founder of sociology, he advocated for applying the scientific method to the social world.

Herbert Spencer

Disagreed with Comte and believed that sociologists should not guide social reform.

Harriet Martineau

Conducted extensive analyses of U.S. social customs and translated Comte's ideas into English.

Karl Marx

Believed that class conflict is the engine of human history and that society is made up of two social classes.

Emile Durkheim

Sought to establish sociology as a separate academic discipline and studied how social forces affect behavior.

Max Weber

Disagreed with Marx and believed that religion, not economics, was the central force in social change.

Jane Addams

Co-founded Hull-House and campaigned for social reform and equality.

W.E.B

Studied race relations and was a founder of the NAACP.

C

Urged sociologists to engage in social reform and analyzed the power of the elite in society.

Survey

Data collection method involving a series of questions answered by people.

Participant Observation

Research method where the researcher participates in a research setting while observing.

Case Study

Intensive analysis of a single event, situation, or individual to understand relationships and motivations.

Secondary Analysis

Analyzing data that someone else has already collected.

Analysis of Documents

Examining written sources, such as police reports, to gather data.

Experiments

Research method that allows for determining cause and effect through manipulation of variables.

Culture

The language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that characterize a group.

Material culture

Objects that distinguish a group, such as food, clothes, and hairstyles.

Non-material culture

A group's ways of thinking and doing, including beliefs, values, and patterns of behavior.

Culture shock

The experience of coming into contact with a radically different culture.

what are the four stages of culture shock?

Honeymoon, Negotiation, Adjustment, Adaptation

Honeymoon stage

The initial stage of culture shock where differences between old and new culture are seen in a romantic light.

Negotiation stage

The stage of culture shock where differences become apparent and may create anxiety.

Adjustment stage

The period of culture shock where the individual grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines.

Adaptation stage

The final stage of culture shock where the individual fully adapts to the new culture.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures based on one's own cultural standards, often leading to a negative evaluation.

Cultural relativism

Trying to understand a culture on its own terms without judging it.

Language

A system of symbols that can represent objects and abstract thought, forming the basis of culture.