SOCIOLOGY - PAPER 1 TERMS

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