UofC SOCI 201 Midterm #1

altruistic suicide

Occurs in settings that exhibit high levels of social solidarity, according to Durkheim. Altruistic suicide results from norms very tightly governing behaviour.

anomic suicide

occurs in settings that exhibit low levels of social solidarity, according to Durkheim. Anomic suicide results from vaguely defined norms governing behaviour.

Conflict Theory

generally focusses on large, macro-level structures, such as as the relations between or among classes. it shows how major patterns of inequality in society produce social stability in some circumstances and social change in others. it stresses how members of privileged groups try to maintain their advantages while subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs. it typically leads to suggestion that eliminating privilege will lower the level of conflict and increase the sum total of human welfare

Democratic Revolution

began about 1750. It suggested that people are responsible for organizing society and that human intervention can therefore solve social problems.

Dysfunctional consequences

are effects of social structures that create social instability

egotistic suicide

results from a lack of integration of the individual into society and lack of integration of the individual into family

Feminist Theory

claims that patriarchy is at least as important as class inequality in determining a person's opportunities in life. It holds that male domination and female subordination are determined not by biological necessity but by structures of power and social convention. It examines the operation of patriarchy in both micro and macro settings. And it contends that existing patterns of gender inequality can and should be changed for the benefit of all members of society.

Functionalist Theory

Stresses that human behaviour is governed by relatively stable social structures. It underlines how social structures maintain or undermine social stability. It emphasizes that social structures are based mainly on shared values or preferences. It suggests that reestablishing equilibrium can best solve most social problems.

global structures

are patterns of social relations that lie outside and above the national level. They include international organizations, patterns of worldwide travel and communication, and the economic relations between countries

Globalization

is the process by which formerly separate economics, states, and cultures are becoming tied together and people are becoming increasingly aware of their growing interdependence

Macrostructure

are overarching patterns of social relations that lie outside and above our circle of intimates and acquaintances. Macrostructures include classes, bureaucracies, and power systems, such as patriarchy

manifest functions

visible and intended effects of social structures

microstructures

are the patterns of relatively intimate social relations formed during face-to- face interaction. Families, friendship circles, and work associations are all examples.

patriarchy

is the traditional system of economic and political inequality between women and men

postindustrial revolution

refers to the technology-driven shift from manufacturing to service industries and the consequences of that shift for virtually all human activities

postindustrial revolution

refers to the technology-driven shift from manufacturing to service industries and the consequences of that shift for virtually all human activities

Research

the process of systematically observing reality to assess the validity of a theory

The Scientific Revolution

began around 1550. It encouraged the view that sound conclusions about the workings of society must be based on solid evidence, not just on speculation.

social solidarity

refers to (1) the degree to which group members share beliefs and values, and (2) the intensity and frequency of their interaction

sociological imagination

is the quality of mind that enables a person to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures

social structures

are relatively stable patterns of social relations

Sociology

the systematic study of human behaviour in social context

Symbolic Interactionism

focuses on face-to-face communication or interaction in micro-level social settings. It emphasizes that an adequate explanation of social behaviour requires understanding the subjective meanings people attach to their social circumstances and do not merely react to them. By underscoring the subjective meanings people create in small social settings, symbolic interactionism validates unpopular and nonofficial viewpoints, thus increasing our understanding and tolerance of people who may be different from us.

Theory

A tentative explanation of some aspect of social life that states how and why certain facts are related

Values

are ideas about what is right and wrong, good and bad

casual relationship

involves a relationship between two variables in which change or variation in one variable produces change or variation in a second variable. Four criteria are essential establishing a casual relationship between two variables: association, time ordering, non spuriousness, and theoretical rationale.

dependent variable

a variable that is assumed to depend on or be caused by one or more other variables (independent variables); it is the variable that is the effect, or outcome, in a cause-effect relationship.

ethics in research

involves an individual's ability to understand what he or she is being asked to do in a research study, make a reasoned judgement about any effects research participation might have on that person, and make a choice to participate free from coercive influence. Informed consent is central to this decision-making process. Knowledge about the funder of a research project is important ti informed consent.

Experiment

a controlled test of the causal effects of a particular variable or set of variables on a dependent or outcome variable

Explanation

is an account of the causal logic that shows how and why variables influence one another

external validity

is the generalizability of a particular finding from the study group to a larger population; the relevance of conclusions for a larger population; or the ability to infer that the results of a study are representative of processes operating in a broader population

Hawthorne effect

people involved in a study may be influenced by the very process of being studied; the study has an impact on the subjects of the study

hypothesis

is a knowledge claim or hunch about how the world works; it is a testable statement, derived from a theory, about the relationship between two or more variables.

independent variable

a variable that is presumed to affect or influence another variable; it is the causal variable

interview

method of collecting information by asking people questions, either in person or over the phone. Interviews range from highly structured (present questions in a fixed order) to loosely structured (topic guidelines, but no prescribed question wording)

measurement

is reliable if it is consistent or repeatable

Objectivity

the quality of minimizing the effect of personal bias on research results or the idea of impartially, of "fair hearings". Objectivity is an ideal enhanced by research being open to the critical scrutiny of others. Objectivity as complete impartially is a myth.

participant observation

involves the participation of the researcher, to varying degrees, in activities of the group under investigation; it attempts to give an "insider's" account of a particular way of life or cultural system.

randomization

is the procedure used in experiments to assign test subjects to experimental conditions on the basis of chance

reliability

consistency of measurement and ability to reproduce the same measurements on repeated occasions

sampling

The process of selecting representative units from a total population

self-administered questionnaires

surveys in which the respondent takes the responsibility for reading and answering the questions without having them stated orally by an interviewer

spurious relationship

involves an incorrect inference about the causal relationships between variables

validity

is the relevance and accuracy of a measurement

variable

is something that varies or an attribute/event that can take on more than one value (ex. unemployment rates, age, sex)

Adaptation

is the process of arranging one's actions to maximize the degree to which an environment satisfies one's needs and interests