SOCIOL 1: Intro to Sociology Midterm - Carian UCI

Social fact

products of human interaction with persuasive or coercive power that exist externally to any individual

Social structure

set of interlocking social institutions in which we live

macro-level

big world, large-scale social trends

Meso-level

groups interactions

micro-level

interaction, the self; person to person, intricate

Agency

free will, capacity of indivduals to act independently

The sociological imagination

capacity to consider how ppl’s lives are shaped by the social facts that surround us

Personal troubles

private problems that effect the invidual & those around them; caused by personal choices

Personal troubles

affect the individual

Public issues

effect whole groups/communities

Sociology

scientific study of society, social institutions, and human social behavior

Falsifiable

can be proven wrong

Theoretical

makes general explanations (theories)

Empirical

based on data

Objective

attempts to have no bias

Communal

shared & challenged in scientific community

The research circle

Theory → hypothesis → observations/data → patterns → etc

Deductive research

start w broad theory, narrow to specific hypothesis & test; ‘top-down’

Inductive research

start w observations

Quantitative methods

numerical data, mathematics

Qualitative methods

focuses on meaning of nonnumerical data; details, patterns

Experiments

test hypothesis under carefully controlled conditions

public issues

widespread social problems that affect large numbers of ppl; caused by flaws in the organization/structure of society

Surveys

research method; invite individual to complete questionnaire designed to collect analyzable data (close ended questions)

Network analysis

map social ties + exchanges between them

Interviews

convo between researcher & research subject

Ethnography

research method, uses careful observation of regularly occurring social interaction (usually participant); ; what ppl do and why

Content analysis

research method, counting & describing patterns of themes in media

Informed consent

clear understanding on behalf of research subject of what their participation in a research study entails

Confidentiality

guarantee that subject participation in study is known to only the researcher

Field notes

descriptive notes of what occurred in the field w tentative sociological observations

Independent variable

changed by researcher

Dependent variable

changes dependent on IV

Acquiescence bias

tendency of survey participants to agree w a statement regardless of actual content

Social desirability bias

tendency of participants to answer survey questions to align w social norms to appear favorable rather than sharing true opinions

Ordering bias

sequence of questions alters how participants respond to questions

Contrast effect

questions are contrasted, leading to answers further than the prior question; more polarized (ex/

Assimilation effect

2nd answer moves closer to the 1st answer’s theme; more similar (ex/ how satisfied r u w your life? → how satisfied r u w yr marriage? = happy → happy

Mutually exclusive

categories separate & don’t overlap

Collectively exhaustive

categories cover every possible option with no missing pieces or blind spots

Double-barrelled questions

question w two distinct topics but only allows single answer (ex/ do u believe uci should increase funding for mental health services & hire more academic advisors)

Culture

difference in groups’ shared ideas & objects, practices, and bodies that reflect them

Cultural Objects

given symbolic meaning

Cultural Cognition

tendency of individuals to align beliefs with their core cultural ideas/values rather than evaluating logically

Cultural Practices

frequently performed by ppl, actions align w beliefs

Social construct (signifier, category, binary, association, sequence, hierarchy)

influential & shared interpretation of reality that will vary across time and space

Social construction

process of layering objects w ideas, fold concepts into one another, & build connections between them

Symbolic structure

constellation of social constructs connected/opposed to each other in overlapping networks of meaning

Culturally competent

able to understand/navigate cultures w ease

Culture shock

feeling of disorientation when suddenly immersed in an unfamiliar way of life

Socialization

lifelong learning process by which we become members of our cultures

Interpersonal socialization

active efforts by other to help us become culturally competent

Self-socialization

active efforts we make ourselves to ensure we’re culturally competent (ex/ copy adults as children, read social cues for how to portray self)

Media socialization

cultural competence we gain thru exposure to media (books, movies, tv, etc)

Agents of socialization

families, schools, peers, religion, mass media, work, military

Cross-cultural comparison

analysis of social institutions, behaviors, norms across 2+ diff cultures/societies

Subculture

subgroups w/i societies that have distinct cultural ideas, objects, practices, and bodies (ex/ comic con = subculture of cosplay)

Hooking up

sexual contact w no acknowledged or actual romantic intent

Hookup culture

encourages hooking up

Sexual field

terrains of interaction with which actors with varying levels of capital compete for a contested good

Qualities of a science

Falsifiable, theoretical, empirical, objective, communal

Sexual capital

resource affecting one’s success in the field (physique, clothing accessories, postures, body language, etc)

Institutions (social)

widespread, enduring, and predictable patterns of behavior/interaction we use to fulfill human need

Formal practices

required; rules/regs that are part of institution (ex/ truancy rules)

Informal practices

ideas that are part of an institution and somewhat enforced, but not req (ex/ back to school shopping)

Hierarchy

grant certain roles power over others

Roles

job/function/responsibilities we have in society

Division of labor

complicated tasks broken down into smaller parts & distributed to individuals who specialize in narrow roles

Rationalization

process of embracing reason to increase efficiency/effectiveness of human activities

Organizations

formal entities that coordinate collections of ppl into a purpose

McDonaldization

process which more parts of life are made efficient, predictable, calculable, and controllable by nonhuman technologies

Efficiency

delivering product in shortest amt of time possible

Predictability

ensuring product taste same no matter when/where ordered

Calculability

prioritizing quantity over quality

Ideology

shared ideas abt how human life should be organized

Social identities

social constructed categories/subcategories of ppl in which we place ourselves or are placed by others

Social identity theory

idea that ppl inclined to form social groups, incorporate group membership into their identity, take steps to enforce boundaries, maximize positive distinction & in-group success

Primary cultural frame

‘frame’ that ppl use to interpret reality, coordinate social behavior w/o deliberate thought (ex/ US has 3 primary cultural frames

Stereotypes

clusters of ideas attached by social convention to ppl w specific social identities

Controlling images

cultural stereotypes that are created and maintained by dominant groups to make social inequality look natural, deserved, and inevitable

Status beliefs

collectively shared ideas abt which social groups are more/less deserving of esteem

Social interactions

moments w other ppl that affect their behavior, thoughts, or emotions

Social rules

culturally specific norms, policies, and laws that guide our behavior

Folkways

loosely enforced norms

Mores

tightly enforced norms w moral significance

Taboos

strong social prohibitions; sickening to violate

Policies

rules made/enforced by orgs

Laws

rules enforced by cities, states, fed gov

Social sanctions

reactions by others aimed at promoting conformity and enforce norms

Symbolic interactionism

theory that social interaction depends on social construction of reality; product of everyday face-to-face interactions

Dramaturgy

life is series of performances, acting out

Impression management

choose a face and doing face work to maintain it

Face

version of self projected in specific setting

Face-work

effort req to establish/maintain our face

Front stage

public space, aware of audience

Back stage

private/semiprivate space, relax & rehearse

Ethnomethodology

studies how people interact; investigates the everyday methods that people use to maintain social order

Ethnomethods

set of culturally specific background assumptions used to make sense of everyday life

Breaching

purposely breaking social rule in order to test how others respond

The looking-glass self

self that emerges as consequence of seeing ourselves as we think other ppl see us