Units A - 5

Social Facts

Social Facts

Ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside the individual but shape behavior and beliefs in society.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that can be measured and counted, aiding in finding patterns and averages.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data exploring attitudes, behaviors, and experiences to provide deeper insights.

Standpoint

The perspective shaped by social position and experiences, crucial for understanding societal viewpoints.

Public Sociology

Bringing sociological insights to the public to engage with social issues, exemplified by Jane Addams.

Sociological Imagination

Ability to connect personal experiences with larger social structures, as described by C. Wright Mills.

Structural Functionalism

Focuses on how society's parts work together to maintain stability and order.

Conflict Theory

Emphasizes power and inequality's role in shaping society through conflicts between groups.

Symbolic Interactionism

Studies how people create and interpret meanings through social interactions.

Empirical Inquiry

Using direct observation or experience to investigate and understand social phenomena.

Data

Information collected to enhance understanding, like counting toys to know the quantity.

Correlation

When two events occur together, such as rain leading to more puddles.

Peer Review

Evaluation of work by others for quality, like a teacher reviewing a drawing.

Sociological Theory

Concepts explaining human behavior, like understanding why people like ice cream.

Causation

One event causing another, like pushing a ball to make it roll.

Informed Consent

Permission sought before studying someone, akin to asking a friend to play with their toy.

Sociological Research Methods

Approaches to studying human behavior, like observing friends playing.

Spurious

False appearance of a relationship, like thinking a red shirt makes you faster.

Confidentiality

Keeping information private, such as not sharing a friend's secret.

Qualitative Research Methods

Techniques using words and images for study, like storytelling.

Generalizable

Knowledge applicable to various groups, like assuming all kids love ice cream.

Vulnerable Populations

Groups needing extra care, like young children or the elderly.

Quantitative Research Methods

Approaches using numbers for study, like counting apples in a basket.

Academic Literature

Books and papers sharing research findings, like scholarly publications.

Institutional Review Board

Group ensuring studies are conducted ethically and safely, like teachers overseeing fair play.

Negative Correlation

One factor increasing while another decreases, like more rain leading to fewer kids at the playground.

Positive Correlation

Two factors increasing or decreasing together, like more sunshine correlating with more outdoor play.

Research Ethics

Guidelines ensuring fair and kind study practices, akin to playing nicely and sharing.

Social Constructs

Concepts shaped by society, not inherently natural, like gender roles or money.

Social Structures

Enduring patterns shaping human behavior, emerging from shared ideas and relationships in society.

Interpersonal Socialization

Direct interactions influencing individual beliefs and behaviors.

Self-Socialization

Internal processes shaping personal identity and self-concept.

Subculture

A group within a larger culture that shares distinct norms, values, and practices, formed through common interests or experiences.

Social Ties

Connections between individuals based on social interactions.

Social Networks

Structures of relationships and connections between individuals or groups within a society.

Homophily

The tendency for people to form social connections with similar others, reinforcing cultural norms within social networks.

Social Network Analysis

Examining patterns of relationships and interactions between individuals or groups to understand social structures and behaviors.

Media Socialization

Influencing cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors through mass communication channels.

Cultured Physiques

Physical appearances and body norms influenced by cultural ideals.

Cultured Capacities

Skills, knowledge, and abilities valued within a culture.

Cultural Conditioning

The process of internalizing and conforming to cultural norms and expectations.

Biosocial Research Methods

Integrating biological and social factors to study human behavior and social phenomena.

Cultural as Value Thesis

Views cultural beliefs as reflecting shared values within a society, guiding behaviors and norms.

Cultural as Rationale Thesis

Sees cultural beliefs as providing explanations for behaviors and societal arrangements.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's own culture, judging others based on one's cultural standards.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding cultural beliefs within their own context without external judgment.

Settled Times

Periods of stable cultural norms and social structures within a society.

Unsettled Times

Periods of cultural upheaval, social change, and challenges to existing norms.

Social Identity Theory

Explains how individuals derive identity from group memberships and social categories.

Distinction

Creating and maintaining boundaries between groups to reinforce social identities.

Stereotypes

Simplified beliefs about groups influencing behaviors and interactions.

Sex

Biological differences between males and females.

Gender

Socially constructed roles and identities associated with being male or female.

Intersectionality

How social identities intersect and shape experiences of privilege and discrimination.

Blood Quantum Rule

Determines Native American tribal membership based on ancestry.

Cisgender

Gender identity aligns with sex assigned at birth.

Computational Sociology

Using computational methods to study social interactions.

Conspicuous Consumption

Purchasing goods to display wealth or status.

Content Analysis

Systematically analyzing communication content to understand meanings and impacts.

Controlling Images

Stereotypes shaping perceptions of social groups.

Stereotype

Pervasive ideas shaping public perceptions about specific groups, often portraying them in a positive or negative light.

Distinction

Characteristic setting a person or group apart, including visible markers like clothing or behavior.

Doing Identity

Ways individuals actively express identities through actions, choices, and self-presentation.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural heritage, including language, customs, traditions, and common ancestry.

Gender Binary

Belief in only two genders, male and female, excluding nonbinary identities.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities for men and women.

In-Group Bias

Tendency to favor members of one's social group over outsiders or different groups.

Intersectionality

Idea that social identity aspects intersect to shape individual experiences and outcomes.

Intersex

Individuals born with sex characteristics not fitting typical male or female definitions.

Minimal Group Paradigm

Experimental method showing group distinctions leading to favoritism and discrimination.

Nonbinary

Individuals not exclusively identifying as male or female, existing outside the traditional gender binary.

One-Drop Rule

Outdated concept considering any African ancestry as Black regardless of appearance.

Positive Distinction

Perception of one's group possessing unique or superior qualities compared to others.

Prejudice

Preconceived opinions or attitudes about individuals or groups based on stereotypes.

Psychological Wage

Non-monetary rewards individuals derive from social roles like respect or perceived superiority.

Race

Social construct categorizing people based on physical traits to justify social hierarchies.

Sex

Biological characteristics categorizing individuals as male or female based on anatomy.

Sexual Minorities

Individuals with sexual orientations differing from societal norms like gay, lesbian, bisexual.

Social Identities

Aspects of self-concept from membership in social groups like family roles or cultural affiliations.

Social Identity Theory

Self-concept and self-esteem derived from social group membership and associated status.

Status

Individual's position in a social hierarchy based on factors like wealth, power, or prestige.

Stereotype

Oversimplified beliefs about individuals or groups based on perceived characteristics or social category.

Transgender

Individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Unit 4

Learning Objective 1:Social interaction guided by social rules, involving communication and behavior influence.

Folkways

Informal norms governing everyday behavior.

Mores

Strongly held norms with moral significance.

Laws

Formal rules established by authorities.

Breaching

Purposefully violating a norm to observe reactions and challenge expectations.

Learning Objective 2

Theory of symbolic interaction & main elements of dramaturgy.

Ethnomethodology

Studying how people make sense of everyday lives and interactions.

Account

Explanation for actions like "I spilled the juice because I tripped."

Back Stage

Being oneself away from public view.

Face

Image or impression one wants others to see.

Field Experiment

Experiment in a real-world setting.

Folkways

Informal norms governing everyday behavior.

Front Stage

Acting a certain way in public.

Impression Management

Controlling how others perceive you.

Interpersonal Discrimination

Treating others unfairly based on who they are.

Laws

Rules made by the government.

Marked and Unmarked Identities

Noticeable vs. unnoticed aspects of identity.