Studied by 13 people
Structuralism
An approach focussing on the large-scale social structures in which people play defined roles
Macro approaches
focus on the large scale of whole societies
Micro approaches
Focuses on small scale interaction
Correlation
When two variables are related to each other but causation cannot be proved
Causation
Where a strict link can be proved between variables in a time sequence: such as
Interpretivism
Approaches that start at the level of the individual
Identity
How a person sees themselves and how others see them
Perspectives
Ways of viewing social life from different points of view
Consensus
Basic agreement on a set of shared values
Conflict
Disagreement between groups with different interests
Positivism
An approach to sociology based on studying society in a scientific manner
Quantitative Data
Information of facts taken in numerical form
Bias
Prejudice that distorts the truth when research is influenced by the values of the researcher or by the decisions taken about then research
Objectivity
Absence of bias
Hypothesis
A theory or explanation of the start of research that the research is designed to test
Pilot Study
A small scale test of a piece of research projects before the main research
Survey Population
All those to whom the study will apply and form which a sample is chosen
Sampling Frame
A list of members of the population from which the sample is chosen
Generalisability
When the findings about a sample can be said to apply to a larger group of people sharing their characteristics
Random Sampling
When each person has an equal chance of being selected
Stratified Sampling
When the sample frame is divided
Quota Sampling
Deciding in advance how many people with what characteristics involve in the research and then identifying one
Snowball Sampling
When one respondent puts the researcher in contact with others
Sampling Methods
The different ways in which samples can be created
Ethical Issues
Issues that have a moral dimension such as when harm or distress may be caused to the participants
Questionnaires
A standardised list of questions used in social surveys
Social Surveys
The systematic collection of information from a sample
Open Questions
Respondents can reply freely in their own words to give their response
Closed/Pre-coded Questions
Questions where the researcher has set out which response can be recorded
Respondent
Someone who provides information to researchers
Qualitative Data
Information and facts ( like attitudes or kinds of actions) that are not able to be recorded in numerical form
Self Completion Questionnaires
Questionnaires that are completed by the respondent on their own
Postal Questionnaires
Self-completion questionnaires that's are sent out and returned by post
Response Rate
The proportion of responses obtained out of a sample
Structured Interview
An interview in which the questions are standardised ( the same questions asked in the same order) and the replied codified to produce qualitative data
Telephone Questionnaires
When the researcher reads the questions to a respondent over the telephone and records their answers
Reliability
When the research can be repeated and similar responses will be obtained
Validity
When the findings accurately reflect the reality that is intended to capture
Unstructured Interview
An interview without set questions that usually involves probing into emotions and attitudes
Semi-structured Interview
An interview with some standardised questions but allowing the researcher some flexibility on what is asked in what order
Focus group
A group bought together to be interviewed on a particular topic (the focus): a special type of group interview
Group interview
Any interview involving a group interviewed together
Interviewer Bias
Intentional or unintentional effect of the way that the interviewer asks questions or interprets answers
Interviewer Effect
Ways in which an interviewer may influence participants responses by their characteristics or appearance or by verbal cues such as facial expressions and tone of voice
Subjectivity
Lack of objectivity; the researcher's view influences the approach taken
Laboratory Experiments
Experiments taking place in a laboratory
Hawthorne or Observer Effect
The unintended effects if the researchers presence on the behaviour or respondents of participants
Field Experiments
Experiments that take place in the natural setting of the real world rather than in a laboratory
Case Study
A detailed
Longitudinal Study
A survey taking place in intervals over a long period
Overt Participation Observation
When the group being studied is aware that research is taking place and of who the researcher
Covert Participation Observation
In such research the group being studied is unaware of the research and is deceived into thinking the researcher is a real member of the group
Non-participant Observation
When the researcher observes a group but does not participate in what is going on
Content Analysis
A method of studying communications and the media
Triangulation
Use of two or more methods in the same research project
Representativeness
The degree to which research findings about one group can be applied to a larger group or similar groups
Primary Data
Information collected by the sociologists at first hand
Secondary Data
Information collected earlier by others and used later
Official Statistics
Produced by government and official agencies
Non-official Statistics
Produced by other organisations such as charities
Trend
A change over time in a particular direction
Comparative Study
In research
Historical Documents
A wide range of documents from the past used as sources if information by sociologists
social stratification
a hierarchy in which groups have different statuses and different levels of privilege
social class
a group of people having the same social and economic status
age
age is a form of stratification
status
a position that someone has in society
power
the ability to influence people's behaviour
industrial societies
Societies that use technology for mass production
minority group
a category of people lacking power
slavery
a stratification system in which one group is treated as the legal property of another group
caste
a closed stratification system traditionally found in India
closed society
a society in which mobility between different levels of stratification is not possible
ascribed status
a status that is given to individuas by their society or group over which they have little or no control
traditional societies
societies that are still predominantly agricultural and have not yet become industrial
discrimination
when an individual or group suffers a disadvantage becasue of their characteristics
ageism
prejudics or discrimination againt someone beased on their age
achieved status
a status that individuals acquire through their own efforts
life chances
the opportunities that people have to improve their lives
human right
a wider category than civil rights
civil rights
rights that protect the freedom of individuals
working class
manual or blue-collar workers
fatalism
individuals' belief that they cannot control what happens to them
deferred gratification
being able to set long-term goals
immediate gratification
choosing instant satisfaction rather than waiting for a greater reward in the future
middle class
professional and other non-manual workers
minority ethnic group
a minority group with a distinct national or cultural tradition
social inequality
the inequality between groups in a stratification system
wealth
money
distribution of wealth
the way in which wealth is distributed
income
the sum of earnings from work and other sources
welfare state
the way in which governments try to provide for the less well off and reduce social inequality
meritocracy
a society in which individuals achieve the level that thier talents and abilities deserve
redistribution of wealth
advocated by Marxists and others to achieve greater equality by giving some of the wealth of the better off to those who are less wealthy
dependency culture
A set of values leading people to lose the ability to look after themselves so they become dependent
underclass
a group below the working class that is effectively cut off from the rest of society
marxism
a theoretical perspective that sees conflict between classes as the most important feature of society
equal opportunities
When all people are given the same chances (for example
disability
covers a wide range of types of impairment in how the body functions in carrying out activities
relative poverty
being poor in relation to others in the same society
Note
Flashcard