soc 1

Sociology

Study of human society + social behavior. Like patterns in Cultures, workplaces, families, etc.

Sociological imagination (mills)

Quality of mind that helps understand the relationship between the individual and larger social forces. Like seeing how your life is shaped by social, economic, or historical forces.

Beginner’s mind

Approaching the world without preconceptions to see things in a new way. Like approaching everyday life without assumptions or judgment. Seeing things for the first time

Culture shock

Sense of disorientation. Occurs when entering a completely new social or cultural environment. Like asking how a stranger is doing as a way to greet without actually wanting to know their whole day.

Microsociology

Studies face-to-face interactions to understand how they affect society and larger patterns. Like how a teacher’s expectations can influence a student’s participation and grade.

Macrosociology

Studies large-scale social structures to determine how they affect the lives of groups + individuals. Like how government funding and standardized testing can impact school districts.

Theory

Abstract propositions that explain the social world + make predictions about the future. Like how structural functionalism is a macro-level theory

Intersectionality

Concept that identifies how different categories of inequality intersect to shape the lives of indv. + groups. Like how race, gender, and class intersect to affect medical access+outcomes

Auguste Comte

Developed Positivism. Assumes society operates under specific laws that can be described using Scientific Method

Harriet Martineau

Journalist + Political economist. Wrote about radical social changes. Translated Comte’s work into English.

Emile Durkheim + His structural functionalism

Central figure in functionalist theory. Studied social factors that bond together;; Society is unified whole that functions due to contributions of separate structures.

Karl Marx

German political economist. Inspired conflict theory. Believed poverty, crime, and disease were caused by capitalism. Proposed radical alternative, Manifesto of the Communist Party

Max Weber

Interested in shift from traditional society to modern industrial. Work drawn from ideas of other macrosociologists. Forms it own branch tho

W. E. B. Du Bois

Researched history of slave trade, post civil war reconstruction, black american society, and urban ghetto. Helped found NAACP

Jane Addams

One of the first proponents of applied sociology. Considered the founder of social work.

Conflict Theory

Sees social conflict as the basis of society and social change. Materialist view, critical view of status quo.

Symbolic Interactionism

Sees interaction and meaning as central to society. Assumes meanings are created through interaction.

Quantitative Research

Research that translates the social world into numbers. Treated mathematically. Tries to find cause and effect relationships

Qualitative Research

Works with nonnumerical data. Texts, field notes, interview transcripts, photographs. Tries to understand how people make sense of the world.

Hypothesis

Theoretical statement explaining relationship between two or more phenomena

Independent/dependent Variable

Factor predicted to change, factor that is changed by prev.

Correlation vs. Causation

relationship between variables in which they change together NOT causation; relationship between variables in which if one changes, it changes the other

Operationalize

Turning a vague idea into a step-by-step action plan/measurable test

Reliability

Consistency of a question or measurement tool

Validity

Accuracy of a question or measurement tool.

Sample/Population

Members of population, entire group

Random Sample

Probability sample where every member of population has a chance of being selected.

Generalizability

Findings derived from a specific study sample can be safely applied or extended onto a broader target population or social setting. Like If u wanted to know average screen time of adults. low would use a 50 person survey on a college campus and high would be a random sample of 5,000 all over country

Hawthorne Effect

Specific example of reactivity where desired effect is result instead of the independent variable. The research itself

Variable

Phenomena that a researcher believes can be related. Will be examined in an experiment

The Research Process (steps in order)

Identify problem/question, Conduct literature review, Form hypothesis + variables, Choose research design, Collect data, Analyze data, Distribute findings

Ethnography

Naturalistic method to study people in their own environment to understand meanings they attribute to activities

Participant Observation

Methodology associated with ethnography where researcher observes and becomes member in social setting

Interviews

Person to person conversation to gather info using questions

Surveys

Research method questionnaires that are given to a selected sample from a target population

Content Analysis

Method where researchers identify + study variables/theme that appear in text, image, or media

Existing Sources

Materials that have already been produced for another reason. Can be used for social research data

Experiments

Formal tests of specific variables + effects. Performed in a setting where all aspects can be controlled

Focus Groups

Process for interviewing a number of participants together. Also enables interaction between members

Institutional Review Board

Group of scholars within a university who meet regularly. Approve their research proposals, make recs to protect human subjects

Informed Consent

Safeguard where the researcher makes sure respondents are freely participating and understand research nature

Confidentiality and Anonymity

Assurance that only researcher will know respondent identity; Assurance where no one will know respondent identity

Do No Harm

Ethical standard that requires researches to protect participants from any form of harm/damage during research

Deception and Debriefing

Participants in research are unaware of project/goals; Participants in research are aware of project/goals

A Controversial Study and The Problem It Raised

Culture

A population’s way of life. World views that are passed down through generations.

Material Culture

Objects associated with cultural group. Machines, utensils, art, and architecture that are given social meaning.

Nonmaterial Culture

Ideas associated with cultural group and ways of behaving. Beliefs, values, norms, communication

Symbol

Objects, gestures, sounds that carry a meaning to all in same culture. Hearts = love/valentines day

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Idea that language structures thought

Values

What is right or wrong, good or bad

Norms

Rules regarding what behavior is acceptable in a culture. Emanates their values

Folkways

Loosely enforced norms. Customs or practices that ensure smooth social interaction

Mores

Norms that carry great moral significance. Closely related to core values. Involve severe reprecussions for violators

Taboos

Norm ingrained so deeply that the thought of violation evokes strong feeling of disgust or horror

Laws

Types of norms to provide what is permissible or forbidden in given society

Sanctions

Positive/negative reactions to how people follow/disobey norms. Reward for conforming, punishment for violating

Subculture

Group within society that’s different by distinctive norm, value, and lifestyle

Counterculture

Group within society that openly rejects society’s values and norms

Ethnocentrism

Using one’s own culture as a means to evaluate another group/individual. Leading to the view that the other is abnormal/inferior

Cultural Relativism

Principle of understanding other cultures on their own terms rather than judging

High vs. Popular Culture

Cultural expression associated with elite/dominant classes; cultural expression associated with the masses, consumer goods, commercial products

Cultural Imperialism

Imposition of culture beliefs + practices on another using media + consumer products instead of military force

Globalization

Cultural and economic change from increased international trade/exchange in the late 20th and early 21st centuries

Five Characteristics of Culture

Learned (socialization), Shared (society practices), Symbolic (language), Integrated (values and beliefs are interconnected), Dynamic (can adapt/evolve over time)

Language

System of communication using vocal sounds/gestures, or written symbols.

Cultural Lag

Time between changes in culture/tech. Results in changes in broad culture norms, values, meanings, and laws

Cultural Diffusion

Dissemination of material and nonmaterial culture from one group to another

Culture Wars

Clashes within mainstream society over values/norms that should be upheld

Conspicuous Consumption (Veblen)

Practice of buying and using luxury goods/services to display weath, social status rather than to fulfill practical needs