SOC 101 Exam 1 Study Guide Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the SOC 101 Exam 1 study guide, covering key theoretical perspectives, core concepts, theorists, and research methods.

Sociology

A science anchored by theory and data, requiring a logical framework and empirical research to support claims about human society.

Howard Becker's Description of Sociology

A perspective defining sociology as the study of people doing things together in society.

Microlevel Sociology

A level of analysis focusing on small-scale interactions, individual daily life, and face-to-face dynamics.

Macrolevel Sociology

A level of analysis focusing on large-scale social structures, institutions, and society as a whole.

Sociological Perspective

A framework for looking at the world through a sociological lens to contextualize individual choice within social patterns.

Beginner's Mind

An approach used to gain a sociological perspective by setting aside preconceptions and viewing society with fresh curiosity.

Culture Shock

A state of disorientation experienced when encountering an unfamiliar culture or way of life.

Sociological Imagination

A theoretical quality of mind used to examine everyday life by connecting individual personal troubles to broader public and historical issues.

Durkheim's Study of Suicide

A study demonstrating that suicide, while seemingly an individual choice, follows social patterns tied to social integration and cohesion.

American Dream Theory

An ideological belief system in U.S. culture centered on upward mobility and success through effort, helping structure social investment in society.

Social Theory

Theoretical frameworks and concepts used to explain, analyze, and understand social phenomena and human behavior.

Structural Functionalism

A macro-level theory, rooted in the work of Emile Durkheim, that views society as a system of interconnected parts working together to promote solidarity and stability.

Social Solidarity

The degree of social unity, cohesion, and moral ties that bind individuals together within a cohesive society.

Anomie

A state of normlessness or breakdown of social regulations and moral guidance within society.

Herbert Spencer's Human Body Analogy

A structural functionalist analogy comparing society to the human body, where institutions function like organs to maintain social health and stability.

Conflict Theory

A macro-level theory, based on the work of Karl Marx, that emphasizes social power, inequality, and struggle over resources.

Bourgeoisie

In Karl Marx's conflict theory, the capitalist class who owns the means of production.

Proletariat

In Karl Marx's conflict theory, the working class who sells their labor to owners of the means of production.

Means of Production

The physical resources, tools, and facilities required to produce economic goods and material wealth.

Alienation

In Marxist conflict theory, the sense of estrangement and isolation experienced by workers under capitalism regarding labor, products, self, and others.

Hegemony

Cultural and ideological dominance exerted by a ruling class to maintain social power through consent and shared social values.

False Consciousness

A state of mind in which subordinate individuals accept beliefs and ideologies that mask true relations of power and exploitation.

Dialectical Model

A framework for social change driven by opposing social forces or contradictions leading to new social arrangements.

Praxis

The application of social theory and critical reflection into transformative real-world action.

Max Weber

A sociologist who serves as a bridge between macro and micro sociology, known for studying bureaucracies, rationalization, disenchantment, and verstehen.

Rationalization

The historical process where logical rules, efficiency, and economic calculation replace tradition and emotion in social life.

Disenchantment

The feeling of disillusionment resulting from a modern society dominated by bureaucracy, science, and rationalization.

Verstehen

A German concept emphasized by Max Weber meaning empathic understanding of the meanings individuals attach to social actions.

Symbolic Interactionism

A micro-level theory emphasizing everyday interaction, the social creation of meaning, and the social construction of reality (analogous to pointillism).

Feminist Theory

A theoretical approach operating across micro and macro levels, associated with bell hooks and Patricia Hill Collins, linking gender inequality to institutions and power hierarchies.

Intersectionality

A key concept in feminist theory examining how social hierarchies like race, class, gender, and sexuality intersect and reinforce power dynamics.

Scientific Method

A structured five-step research procedure comprising 1) literature review, 2) hypothesis formation, 3) creating variables, 4) data collection, and 5) data analysis.

Hypothesis

A testable theoretical statement predicting the relationship between two or more variables.

Variable

A measurable characteristic or concept that can change, vary, or take on different values in a study.

Quantitative Data

Data collected in numerical form that can be counted, measured, and analyzed statistically.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical research data capturing rich descriptive descriptions, meanings, and subjective experiences.

Ethnography

A qualitative research method involving direct, immersive observation and participation in a social setting.

Interview

A qualitative research method involving direct direct questioning of respondents to elicit detailed, personal descriptions.

Survey

A research method involving questionnaires administered to a population or sample to collect quantitative or qualitative data.

Content Analysis

A research method used to analyze written, visual, or media artifacts to identify specific patterns, themes, and meanings.