UNT SOCIOLOGY 1510 (EXAM 1)

Interpretive Sociology

Participant observation typically falls within interpretive sociology, characterized by its focus on qualitative data and reliance on personal judgment to understand meaning in social behavior.

Goal of Critical Sociology and Social-Conflict Theory

Both critical sociology and social-conflict theory aim to reduce social inequality by challenging existing power structures and advocating for change.

Androcentricity in Research

Androcentricity is a research problem where the perspective is male-focused, assuming men's activities are most important. An example is a sociologist creating a survey to measure work hours but not including "housewife" as an occupational choice, thereby marginalizing women's work.

Durkheim's Suicide Study Conclusion

Durkheim's suicide study concluded that social forces have an impact on suicide, demonstrating that even highly personal acts are influenced by societal factors like integration and regulation.

Sociological Research Shaping Public Policy

Sociological research can influence public policy. An example is when many states pass laws to increase women's claims to marital property and enforce fathers' obligations for child support, reflecting societal changes informed by research.

Latent Function of Social Structure

A latent function of social structure is an unrecognized and unintended consequence. An example is a college's function as a "marriage broker," bringing together young people of similar social backgrounds.

Social-Conflict Theoretical Approach

Many sociologists use the social-conflict theoretical approach not only to understand society but also to actively work towards societal change that would reduce inequality.

Factor Encouraging Sociology's Development

A significant factor encouraging the development of sociology as a discipline was the rise of a factory-based industrial economy, which led to profound social changes and new forms of social organization.

Philip Zimbardo's Research

Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment illustrated how social roles and situational factors can overwhelmingly influence behavior, leading to specific statements/conclusions by the researcher.

High-Income Country Example

Canada is an example of a high-income country, characterized by advanced industrial economies and high standards of living.

Positivist Sociology

Siobhan's belief that true research should involve objective and systematic observation of social behavior to understand objective reality aligns with positivist sociology.

Real-Life Example of a Variable

In sociological research, a variable is a characteristic that can change or differ. Social class is a real-life example of a variable, as individuals can belong to different social classes.

Symbolic-Interaction Approach to Sports

Following the symbolic-interaction approach, we would understand sports not as a societal system, but as an ongoing process of face-to-face interaction, focusing on how individuals interpret and give meaning to the game and each other's actions.

Interviewing Cultural Minorities Advice

When interviewing people in a cultural minority, it's advised to be careful with the terms you use to ensure respect, clarity, and to establish better rapport with your subjects.

Structural-Functional Approach Analogy

The structural-functional approach in sociology is akin to analyzing the human body, identifying parts (social institutions) and understanding what each does to keep the body (society) operating as a whole.

Questions for Structural-Functional Approach

A sociologist following the structural-functional theoretical approach would likely ask: What are the major parts of society? How are these parts linked? What does each part do to help society work?

First Step in Sociological Research

The first step in a sociological research project is choosing a topic, which sets the direction for the entire study.

E. Digby Baltzell's Study

E. Digby Baltzell studied the effects of Puritanism and Quakerism in shaping the distinct cultures of two U.S. cities, highlighting the influence of religious traditions on social development.

Global Perspective

Taking a global perspective involves studying the larger world and our society's place within it, understanding interconnectedness and global dynamics.

Auguste Comte and Sociology

Auguste Comte coined the term sociology to describe a new scientific way of looking at and studying society.

Factors Leading to Sociology's Development

Three historical factors leading to sociology's development were the new industrial economy, the growth of cities, and political change across Europe and the United States.

Positivist Orientation and Structural-Functionalism

The positivist orientation in research is linked to the structural-functional approach because both are concerned with understanding society as it is, focusing on objective observation and how society functions.

Formal Definition of Sociology

The formal definition of sociology is the systematic study of human society, encompassing patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture.

Privilege and Individual Responsibility

It is false that people with the fewest privileges are the most likely to see individuals as responsible for their own lives; often, they are more aware of systemic barriers.

Max Weber and Interpretive Sociology

According to Max Weber, the key to interpretive sociology lies in understanding the meaning people see in behavior (Verstehen), focusing on subjective experiences rather than objective facts.

Best Method for Studying Playground Bullying

For Shanna, who is studying playground bullying and knows little about the topic, participant observation is the best research method, allowing her to immerse herself and gain deep, qualitative insights.

Birthrate Differences: U.S. vs. Low-Income Nation

A key factor explaining birthrate differences between the U.S. and a low-income nation like Niger is that women in poorer countries are less likely to use contraception due to limited access and cultural norms.

Controlling Spurious Correlation

To check for a spurious correlation, a sociologist uses the technique called control, keeping all variables the same except one to isolate its effect.

Theoretical Approach Quoting Comte, Durkheim, Spencer

Kareem's essay quoting Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, and Herbert Spencer strongly suggests he is writing about the structural-functional theoretical approach, as these theorists were foundational to it.

Positivist Approach and Personal Feelings

According to a positivist approach, researchers can study the world as it is rather than how they think it should be by controlling personal feelings and opinions to maintain objectivity.

Benefit of Applying Sociological Perspective

Applying the sociological perspective can help people to assess the truth of "common sense", by looking beyond individual explanations to broader social patterns.

Informed Consent in Sociological Research

According to the American Sociological Association, informed consent means that subjects must understand the responsibilities and risks involved in the study and agree to take part voluntarily.

Best Research Method for Aaban (Discrimination Study)

Aaban's need to establish rapport when studying discrimination against Muslims makes the interview the best research method, allowing for in-depth, sensitive conversations.

Definition of Social Structure

Social structure is defined as any relatively stable pattern of social behavior, organizing society and influencing individuals.

Best Question for Available Data Study

The question Did any particular region in colonial America produce more leaders than other regions? is best answered by studying available historical data rather than collecting new data.

Characteristics of Low-Income Nations

Low-income nations are best categorized by a low standard of living so that most people are poor, often lacking advanced technology and adequate infrastructure.

Marcus's Biased Findings in Thesis

Marcus's findings being biased because subjects did not act naturally during the study strongly suggests he used an experiment, where subjects' awareness of being observed can alter behavior.

Auguste Comte's Metaphysical Stage Shift

During Auguste Comte's metaphysical stage, the focus shifted from moral obligation to God and king (theological) to the pursuit of self-interest, reflecting a more individualistic and rational worldview.

Androcentricity Definition

Androcentricity refers to approaching an issue from a male perspective, assuming only men's activities are important, often leading to a biased view of social reality.

High-Income Nations Category

The United States, Canada, and the nations of Western Europe fall within the category of high-income nations, characterized by advanced economies.

Global Perspective Meaning

Taking a global perspective involves studying our society's place in the larger world, acknowledging global interdependence and comparing cultures.

Social-Exchange Analysis of Courtship

Social-exchange analysis views courtship as a process where people seek mates who can offer them at least as much as they offer in return, based on a cost-benefit assessment.

Globalization of Economy Example

An example of a social pattern part of the globalization of the economy is more trade that involves goods and services crossing national borders, indicating increased global economic integration.

Result of European Enclosure Movement

One significant result of the European enclosure movement was that people sought out work in cities, leading to urbanization and the growth of industrial centers.

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment Results

The results of Zimbardo's "Stanford County Prison" experiment confirmed the hypothesis that prison violence is rooted in the character of the prison setting itself, rather than solely in individual personalities.

Definition of Sociological Perspective

Seeing the general in the particular is one way to define the sociological perspective, which involves understanding how general social forces shape individual experiences.

U.S. Population Category with Lowest Suicide Rate

Consistent with Durkheim's findings, African American women have the lowest rate of suicide among the listed categories in the U.S. population, often linked to stronger social ties and cultural protective factors.

Final Step in Sociological Research

The final step in sociological research is to share one's findings with others and allow others to respond to your work, which contributes to the broader academic discourse and allows for peer review.

Comte's Metaphysical Stage: Human Behavior

During Auguste Comte's metaphysical stage, people described patterns of human behavior in terms of a reflection of selfish human nature, moving away from supernatural explanations.

Replication in Research

Investigators use replication in research because having someone else repeat the study is one way to limit distortion caused by personal values and increase reliability.

Equality in the United States (Robin Williams Jr.)

According to sociologist Robin Williams Jr., people in the United States believe in equality—not equality of condition but rather equality of opportunity, meaning everyone should have a fair chance to succeed.

Human Survival and Culture

In the animal kingdom, only humans rely on culture to ensure their survival, transmitting knowledge, beliefs, and practices across generations.

First Musical Style for Youth Culture

Rock-and-roll was the first musical style to be clearly linked to the emergence of a distinct youth culture in the United States, representing a break from older traditions.

Language Diversity in U.S. Households

One in five people in the United States speaks a language other than English at home, highlighting the nation's linguistic diversity.

Cultural Universals Examples

The family, funeral rites, and jokes are all examples of cultural universals, patterns or traits that are globally common to all known societies.

Decline in Global Languages

True. The number of languages spoken around the world is declining, often due to globalization and the dominance of major languages.

Technology Spreading English Language

The Internet is the technological innovation of recent decades that has had the greatest effect in helping spread the English language around the globe.

Culture as Habit and Negative Patterns

True. Because culture is largely a matter of habit, we tend to repeat many negative patterns of behavior in each new generation, perpetuating social issues unless conscious efforts are made to change.

Example of Nonmaterial Culture

The set of beliefs held by followers of a particular religion in the United States is an example of nonmaterial culture, consisting of ideas, values, and practices rather than physical objects.

Mores vs. Folkways

Mores differ from folkways in that mores have great moral significance, often enforcing moral mandates, whereas folkways are less important norms that apply to routine or casual interaction, dealing with etiquette and customs.

Example of Subculture

The South Florida "beach crowd" is an example of a subculture, a group within the larger society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle, but generally coexists with the dominant culture.

Napoleon Chagnon's Culture Shock

Anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon experienced culture shock when he first encountered the Yąnomamö of South America because Chagnon was shaken by the fact that their culture was so different from what he expected, causing disorientation and discomfort.

Fictional Superheroes and Cultural Themes

False. One reason people enjoy fictional "superheroes" is that heroes often represent and reinforce cultural themes and values, not necessarily different ones, giving people opportunities to see idealized versions of their own culture.

Emerging Value in the United States

An example of an emerging value in the United States is that more people think it is important to have time off from work to engage in activities such as reading, travel, or community service, reflecting a shift towards work-life balance and personal enrichment.

Folkway Example in Society

Businessmen should wear ties to work is an example of a folkway in our society, a common custom that guides routine interactions but is not strictly enforced with severe penalties.

Vocal Opposition to Stem Cells (Ogburn's Analysis)

According to William Ogburn's cultural lag analysis, vocal opposition to medical stem cell use might arise because new elements of material culture (like medical technology) develop faster than new elements of nonmaterial culture (values, ethics, laws), creating a gap and social tension.

Theoretical Approach for Women in Corporate Positions

Feminist theory would most likely lead us to learn that there are fewer women than men in top corporate positions, as it analyzes gender inequality and power imbalances.

Best Way to Identify a Distinctive Culture

The best way to identify a distinctive culture is if it has its own language, as language is fundamental to shaping thought, transmitting traditions, and fostering a shared sense of identity.

Person Likely to Experience Severe Culture Shock

Raj's company transfers him from their main office in Washington, D.C., to a satellite office in Lima, Peru is the person most likely to experience severe culture shock due to the significant cultural differences, language barrier, and distance from their familiar environment.

U.S. Cultural Value Contradicted by Inequality

The pattern of inequality in U.S. culture (favoring men, whites, rich) contradicts the key value of equal opportunity identified by Robin Williams Jr., which posits that everyone should have a fair chance to succeed.

Best Example of a Counterculture

The "hippies" of the 1960s are the best example of a counterculture, as they openly rejected and actively opposed many dominant cultural values and norms of their time.

Cultural Universals and Technology

False. Computers, iPods, cell phones, and DVD players are not cultural universals; they are specific technological products of modern material culture, not found in all societies.

Meanings of Symbols

The meanings attached to what we hold as symbols can vary among individuals or groups of people within a single society, demonstrating the fluid and interpretive nature of symbolic meaning.

Social-Conflict Approach to Culture

The statement most closely tied to the social-conflict approach is: Any culture is a way of life that benefits some people and disadvantages others, seeing culture as a tool for maintaining power and inequality.

Joking as a Cultural Universal

True. Joking can be considered a cultural universal because humor, in various forms, is found in all known human societies, though its specific expressions vary.

Cause of Civil War in Yugoslavia (1990s)

The civil war in Yugoslavia during the 1990s was fueled by ethnic differences within the country, as various groups struggled for power and self-determination, highlighting deep cultural divisions.

Ideal Culture vs. Real Culture

The finding that some spouses cheat, despite general agreement on marital faithfulness, illustrates the need to distinguish between ideal culture (what people believe should be observed) and real culture (what actually exists and is practiced).

Relationship Between Culture and Society

The relationship between culture and society can best be described as interdependent, enduring, essential, as they are inextricably linked and mutually shaping.

Example of Recently Created Modern Symbols

Text-message abbreviations are an example of recently created modern symbols, reflecting the evolution of language and communication in the digital age.

U.S. Key Value: Progress (Robin Williams Jr.)

One of the key values of U.S. culture, belief in progress, means that people in the United States believe that the present is better than the past and the future will be better still, reflecting an optimistic and forward-looking outlook.

Foundation of Cultural Transmission

Language is the foundation of the process of cultural transmission, as it is the primary means through which culture is learned, shared, and passed from one generation to the next.

Miami's "Little Havana" Example

The cultural practices of people in Miami's "Little Havana" (Spanish, Cuban clothing, salsa music, espresso) most likely mean they make up a subculture, maintaining distinct cultural elements within a larger society.

Best Example of a Counterculture

Neo-Nazis provide the best example of a counterculture, as their values and norms actively and often aggressively oppose the dominant culture and societal standards.

Culture is Constantly Changing (Symbols Example)

The claim that culture is constantly changing is best supported by the fact that symbols such as "j4f," "w/e," and "brb" came into existence following the creation of new methods of communication (texting/internet), demonstrating how cultural elements adapt and emerge with technological advancements.

Eurocentric Outlook

False. A Eurocentric outlook means that people evaluate other cultures from a European perspective, often viewing European culture as superior, not valuing all traditions equally.

Technology Spreading English Language (Internet reiterated)

The Internet has had the greatest effect in helping spread the English language globally in recent decades, due to its pervasive reach and role in international communication.

Musical Style Breaking Segregation in 1950s

In the 1950s, rock-and-roll was the first musical style to break down racial and social class segregation in popularity, appealing to diverse youth audiences.

Justin's Experience in Pennsylvania

Justin's confusion and surprise upon seeing horse-drawn buggies and traditionally dressed people in Pennsylvania, different from his expectations, is a mild case of culture shock.

Most Widely Spoken Languages Globally

The most widely spoken languages in the world are English, Chinese dialects, and Spanish, reflecting their extensive reach and number of speakers.

Value Conflict in the United States

An example of a value conflict in the United States is when people believe in equality of opportunity yet sometimes discriminate based on race or gender, highlighting a contradiction between ideal values and real practices.

Mariah's Desire for More Money

Mariah's feeling that more money would make her happier is an example of U.S. culture's key value of material comfort, emphasizing the importance of possessions and financial well-being.

Sociobiology Approach to Culture

Sociobiology is the theoretical approach that assumes cultural patterns are shaped by humanity's biological evolution, linking human behavior to genetic and evolutionary factors.

Hip-Hop Music and Low-Income Cultures

The development of hip-hop music in inner cities demonstrates that low-income people also create cultural patterns that can shape the whole society, challenging top-down views of cultural creation.

Cultural Integration Example (U.S.)

An example of cultural integration in the United States is that women are beginning to marry later in life in order to gain more schooling and to establish a career, connecting educational and occupational values with shifts in family patterns.

Historical U.S. Multiculturalism and European Influence

In the past, U.S. society tended to define itself in terms of its European immigrants, especially those from England, often downplaying other multicultural contributions.

Ethnocentrism Example ("Far East")

A European referring to China as "the Far East" is displaying some degree of ethnocentrism, viewing other cultures relative to their own geographical and cultural center.

Most Multicultural High-Income Country

The United States is the most multicultural of all high-income countries in the world, characterized by its diverse population and cultural heritage.

Mandy's View on Culture and Societal Needs

Mandy, believing people share culture to meet common needs, would also agree that cultural patterns are rooted in a society's core values and beliefs, as these guide collective actions and social order.

Jillian's Development of Cultural Relativism

Jillian's initial surprise and later understanding of Spanish dinner customs illustrates her development of a greater sense of cultural relativism, appreciating cultural practices within their own context rather than judging them by her own.

Sociobiology Approach: Question on Cultural Patterns

A sociologist using the sociobiology approach would most likely ask: How do our cultural patterns reflect the biological evolution of our species?, focusing on evolutionary roots of human behavior.