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Sociology
Systematic study of human society and social interaction.
Society
a large group of people that share a common geography, political system and culture
Sociological Perspective
Is an approach that attempts to understand human behavior by placing it within its broader social context.
Sociological Imagination
The ability to see the relationships between individual experiences and the larger society
Micro-to-Macro Linkage
Placing individual behavior within its broader social context.
Explaining how individual behavior is influenced by larger social issues.
Social Structure
Social forces beyond the control of a single individual that shapes or
influences behavior.
The unwritten rules of human behavior. Expected patterns of beliefs and actions.
Ex: Titanic
Psychology
focuses on individual behavior, but it looks for explanations largely within the individual (it focuses on personality).
Brain Science.
Biology
looks for genetic differences in individuals and groups as explanations of differences in behavior. Body Chemistry
Economics
focus on market behavior.
people's consumption of goods and services.
Geography
social science, how ‘place’ affects human behavior.
Anthropology
Focus on culture. How does your culture affect behavior.
Sociology
Examines all of these factors simultaneously (psychology, biology, economics, geography and anthropology)
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
social facts-
patterned ways of acting, thinking and
feeling that exist outside any one individual,
but that control your behavior. Father of
Functionalism
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
father of conflict theory. He believed that the key to human
history was class conflict. Economic interests of competing social classes drives human history.
Max Weber (1864-1920)-
verstehen- understanding- see the world as others see
it.
Auguste Comte (1789-1857)
Coined term sociology
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
Social Darwinism- survival of the fittest
Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
Geometry of Social life. Studied patterns of individual
interactions within groups.
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
African American sociologist. Race relations.
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
Influential woman sociologist. One of only a very few sociologist to win a Noble Prize.
Guerry
population density, unemployment two very important predictors of moral crimes.
Macrosociology
focuses on broad features of the social structure (social classes, institutions)
Two Theories: Functionalism and Conflict
Microsociology
focus on small groups and interpersonal interactions
Two Theories: Symbolic Interaction, Exchange
Functionalism Society
is a stable, orderly system.
Stability is characterized by consensus-
members of society share common sets of
values, beliefs and behaviors
Functional Requisites
Replacing members
Teaching new members
Production of goods/services
Preserving order
Sense of purpose
Adaptation
Functionalist theory
believes that the major institutions and the arrangement of society
is the most efficient way of satisfying societies basic needs
Manifest and Latent functions
Manifest
intended function of an institution (education: read, write, math)
Latent
unintended benefit (follow rules)
Conflict
groups are engaged in a continuous power struggle for scarce
resources
the conflict perspective argues that the
major institutions protect the property and
status of the rich from the poor.
Interaction
immediate reciprocally oriented communication between two or more actors
Focuses on the role that symbols and play in interaction (marriage proposal)
Symbol
form of communication, either verbal or nonverbal
Self-concept
how we view ourselves.
How we view ourselves depends upon how
others treat us and react to us.
Social Exchange Theory
actors engage in cost/benefit analysis
Which of the following describes sociology as a subject?
a. The study of individual behavior
b. The study of cultures
c. The study of society and social interaction
d. The study of economics
c. The study of society and social interactions
C. Wright Mills once said that sociologists need to develop a sociological __________ to study how society affects individuals.
a. culture
b. imagination
c. method
d. tool
b. imagination
A sociologist defines society as a group of people who reside in a defined area, share a culture, and who
a. interact
b. work in the same industry
c. speak different languages
d. practice a recognized religion
a. interact
Seeing patterns means that a sociologist needs to be able to:
a. compare the behavior of individuals from different societies
b. compare one society to another
c. identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure
d. compare individuals to groups
c. identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure
Which of the following was a topic of study in early sociology?
a. Astrology
b. Economics
c. Physics
d. History
b. economics
Which founder of sociology believed societies changed due to class struggle?
a. Emile Comte
b. Karl Marx
c. Plato
d. Herbert Spencer
b. Karl Marx
Weber believed humans could not be studied purely objectively because they were influenced by:
a. drugs
b. their culture
c. their genetic makeup
d. the researcher
b. their culture
Which of these theories is most likely to look at the social world on a micro level?
a. Structural functionalism
b. Conflict theory
c. Positivism
d. Symbolic interactionism
d. symbolic interactionism
Who believed that the history of society was one of class struggle?
a. Emile Durkheim
b. Karl Marx
c. Erving Goffmann
d. George Herbert Mead
b. Karl Marx
Who coined the phrase symbolic interactionism?
a. Herbert Blumer
b. Max Weber
c. Lester F. Ward
d. W. I. Thomas
a. Herbert Blumer
A symbolic interactionist may compare social interactions to:
a. behaviors
b. conflicts
c. human organs
d. theatrical roles
d. theatrical roles
Which research technique would most likely be used by a symbolic interactionist?
a. Surveys
b. Participant observation
c. Quantitative data analysis
d. None of the above
b. participant observations
Kenneth and Mamie Clark used sociological research to show that segregation was:
a. beneficial
b. harmful
c. illegal
d. of no importance
b. harmful
Studying sociology helps people analyze data because they learn:
a. interview techniques
b. to apply statistics
c. to generate theories
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Berger describes sociologists as concerned with:
a. monumental moments in people’s lives
b. common everyday life events
c. both a and b
d. none of the above
c. both a and b
Berger writes that sociology
a. is not an academic discipline
b. makes the strange familiar
c. makes the familiar strange
d. is not a science
c. makes the familiar strange
The model of scientific inquiry
Derive a theory about some phenomena and form a
hypothesis (People outside of mainstream society are more likely to believe in paranormal)
Identify concepts: abstract elements representing some aspect of the world in simplified form (Marginalization, paranormal beliefs)
State hypothesis: a statement of the relationship
between two or more concepts
-Marginalized persons are more likely to believe in
monsters, UFOs, psychics, etc.
Identify independent (cause) and dependent (effect)
variables
-Unemployment, belief in UFOs, psychics
Collect data using a research design
Perform experiments and analyze data statistically.
Draw conclusions based on those experiments.
Replicate your findings.
Survey Research
a poll in which researchers gather facts or attempt to establish
relationships among facts
Sample
small representative portion of the population- should be random
Population
larger group from which sample is drawn
Respondent
persons who provide data for analysis
Questionnaire
printed research instrument containing a series of items to which subjects respond (mail, phone, face-to-face, internet)
response rate
percentage of respondents who complete study
Nonresponse bias
systematic patterns of people who do not respond to survey (Age, race/ethnicity, income)
Socially desire-able response
a response that is believed to be politically popular
Adv:
works well with large populations
less expensive/more efficient
cause and effect friendly
Dis-
believable?
forces answers
underestimate certain groups (young, minorities, very
poor, very rich).
Secondary Analysis
Researchers use existing material and analyze data collected by
others
Adv
inexpensive
longitudinal cause and effect
Dis:
incomplete data
not replicable
Content Analysis
systematic examination of cultural
artifacts or various forms of communication to extract
thematic data
ex:
liberal bias in media
latent message in cartoons
Sexist comments in textbooks
Field Research
Is the study of social life in its natural setting
observing and interviewing people where they live,
work and play
Adv-
Study behavior in natural setting
Lots of data
Voice to under-represented groups
Dis-
Not generalizable
Too emotional
Participant Observation
collecting data while being part of the activities of the group that is being studied.
Case Studies
in-depth analysis of a particular social setting
Ethnographies
detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years.
Experiments
Carefully designed situation where the researcher
studies the impact of certain variables on subject’s
attitudes/behavior
experimental group
subjects exposed to independent variables
Adv.
1. Control situation
2. Replication
Dis.
1. Artificial
2. Hawthorne effect- people behave differently when
they are being studied
control group
subjects not exposed to independent variables
Ethics
Do not harm- physical or psychological
Informed Consent
Do not deceive (exceptions)
Anonymity and Confidentiality
Do not falsify data
Do not plagiarize
The 1st step of the scientific method:
a. Collect and analyze data
b. Summarize the articles
c. Ask a question about a topic
d. Create a hypothesis
c. ask a question about the topic
A measurement is considered ________ if it actually measures what it is intended to measure, according to
a. reliable
b. sociological
c. valid
d. quantitative
c. valid
Sociological studies test relationships in which change in one ________ causes change in another.
a. test subject
b. behavior
c. variable
d. operational definition
c. behavior
In a study, a group of ten-year-old boys are fed doughnuts every morning for a week and then weighed to see how much weight they gained. Which factor is the dependent variable?
a. The doughnuts
b. The boys
c. The duration of a week
d. The weight gained
d. the weight gained
Which statement provides the best operational definition of “childhood obesity”?
a. Children who eat unhealthy foods and spend too much time watching television and playing video games
b. A distressing trend that can lead to health issues including type 2 diabetes and heart disease
c. Body weight at least 20 percent higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height
d. The tendency of children today to weigh more than children of earlier generations
c. Body weight at least 20 percent higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height
Which materials are considered secondary data?
a. Photos and letters given to you by another person
b. Books and articles written by other authors about their studies
c. Information that you have gathered and now have included in your results
d. Responses from participants whom you both surveyed and interviewed
b. Books and articles written by other authors about their studies
Why is choosing a random sample an effective way to select participants?
a. Participants do not know they are part of a study
b. The researcher has no control over who is in the study
c. It is larger than an ordinary sample
d. Everyone has the same chance of being part of the study
d. Everyone has the same chance of being part of the study
What research method did John S. Lynd and Helen Merrell Lynd mainly use in their Middletown study?
a. Secondary data
b. Survey
c. Participant observation
d. Experiment
c. Participant observation
Which research approach is best suited to the scientific method?
a. Questionnaire
b. Case study
c. Ethnography
d. Secondary data analysis
a. Questionnaire
The main difference between ethnography and other types of participant observation is:
a. ethnography isn’t based on hypothesis testing
b. ethnography subjects are unaware they’re being studied
c. ethnographic studies always involve minority ethnic groups
d. ethnography focuses on how subjects view themselves in relationship to the community
d. ethnography focuses on how subjects view themselves in relationship to the community
Which best describes the results of a case study?
a. It produces more reliable results than other methods because of its depth
b. Its results are not generally applicable
c. It relies solely on secondary data analysis
d. All of the above
b. Its results are not generally applicable
Using secondary data is considered an unobtrusive or ________ research method. a. nonreactive
a. nonreactive
b. nonparticipatory
c. nonrestrictive
d. nonconfrontive
a. nonreactive
Which statement illustrates value neutrality?
a. Obesity in children is obviously a result of parental neglect and, therefore, schools should take a greater role to prevent it
b. In 2003, states like Arkansas adopted laws requiring elementary schools to remove soft drink vending machines from schools
c. Merely restricting children’s access to junk food at school is not enough to prevent obesity
d. Physical activity and healthy eating are a fundamental part of a child’s education
b. In 2003, states like Arkansas adopted laws requiring elementary schools to remove soft drink vending machines from schools
Which person or organization defined the concept of value neutrality?
a. Institutional Review Board (IRB)
b. Peter Rossi
c. American Sociological Association (ASA)
d. Max Weber
d. Max Weber
To study the effects of fast food on lifestyle, health, and culture, from which group would a researcher ethically be unable to accept funding?
a. A fast-food restaurant
b. A nonprofit health organization
c. A private hospital
d. A governmental agency like Health and Social Services
a. A fast-food restaurant
Culture
Knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person-to-person
Material
physical culture- things society makes, uses and shares (e.g. technology, architecture).
Nonmaterial
abstract or intangible human creations that influence behavior (e.g.creations that influence behavior (e.g.language)- that is, a complex pattern of behavior
that directs human life.
Symbol
anything that meaningfully represents something else. Something we attach meaning to and that has shared meaning to and that has shared meaning (alphabet; gesture)
Cultural universal
language is found in every human culture, but... not all symbols
mean the same thing in each culture.
Values
Collective ideas about good and bad, right
and wrong.
Norms
established rules of behavior/standards of conduct
Folkways
informal norms, everyday
customs- usually enforced by informal sanctions
Mores
Norms that cannot be violated without formal consequences
Taboos
extremely offensive, unmentionable
Laws
norms enforced by formal sanctions
Culture Shock
The disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different from their own.
Ethnocentrism
practice of judging other’s culture by your own
Cultural relativism
practices must be viewed by the culture’s own standards
Cultural Diversity
wide range of cultural differences found within and between societies (pluralism)
Subculture
group of people who share cultural beliefs (values) that set them apart from the rest of society.
Ex: Amish in PA
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