Sociology Final Exam

sociology

the scientific study of social structure; patterned social behavior

social structure

the patterned interaction of people in social relationships

sociological perspective

a view that looks at the behavior of groups, not individuals

sociological imagination

the ability to see the link between society and self

perspective

a particular point of view

conformity

behavior that matches group expectations

positivism

the belief that knowledge should be derived from scientific observation

social statics

the study of social stability and order

social dynamics

the study of social change

mechanical solidarity

social dependency based on a widespread consensus of values and beliefs and dependence on tradition and family

organic solidarity

social interdependency based on a high degree of specialization of roles

rationalization

the mind-set emphasizing knowledge, reason, and planning

theoretical perspective

a set of assumptions about an area of study accepted as true

functionalism

approach that emphasizes the contributions made by each part of society

conflict theory

approach emphasizing the role of conflict, competition, and constraint within a society

symbolic interactionism

approach that focuses on the interactions among people based on their mutually understood symbols

karl marx

founder of modern communism \n -Marxism- The theory that society has no classes. Marx believed that there is no class struggle. This eliminates conflict between social classes.

august comte

father of sociology \n - Main concern was the improvement of society, believed social behavior had to be studied specifically

herbert spencer

"Survival of the fittest"; Social Darwinism between societies and cultures \n -natural selection

max weber

He thought that humans claim the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

jane addams

the founder of Hull House, which provided English lessons for immigrants, daycares, and child care classes \n -seeked social justice

population

a group of people with certain specific characteristics

sample

a group of people who represent a larger population

representative sample

a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole

questionaire

a written set of questions to be answered by a research participant

interview

a survey method in which a trained researcher asks questions and records the answers

close-ended questions

questions a person must answer by choosing from a limited, predetermined set of responses

open-ended questions

questions a person is to answer in his or her own words

secondary analysis

using precollected information for data collection and research purposes

field research

research that takes place in a natural setting

case study

intensive study of a single group, incident, or community

participant observation

a case study in which the researcher becomes a member of the group being studied

survey

research method in which people respond to questions

causation

the belief that events occur in predictable ways and that one event leads to another

quantitative

qualitative

variable

a characteristic that can be measured and that can assume different values

quantitative variable

a characteristic that can be measured numerically

qualitative variable

a characteristic that is defined by its presence or absence in a category

independent variable

a characteristic that causes something to occur

dependent variable

a characteristic that reflects a change

intervening variable

a variable that changes the relationship between an independent and dependent variable

correlation

a measure of the relationship between two variables

spurious correlation

a relationship between two variables that is actually caused by a third factor

society

a group of people who inhabit a specific territory and share a common culture

instincts

innate(unlearned) patterns of behavior

reflex

automatic reaction to physical stimuli

drive

impulse to reduce discomfort

sociobiology

the study of how biology influences human behavior

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

theory stating that our idea of reality depends largely upon language

symbol

anything that carries meaning to a specific group of people or culture

folkways

norms that lack moral significance

mores

norms that have moral dimensions and that should be followed by members of the society

taboo

a rule of behavior, the violation of which calls for strong punishment

law

a norm that is formally defined and enforced by officials

sanctions

rewards and punishments used to encourage people to follow norms

formal sanctions

sanctions imposed by persons given special authority

informal sanctions

rewards or punishments hat can be applied by most members of a group

values

broad ideas about what i good or desirable shared by people in a society

norms

rules defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior

beliefs

ideas about the nature of reality

non material culture

ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that influence people’s behavior

material culture

the concrete, tangible objects of a culture

ideal culture

cultural guidelines that group members claim to accept

real culture

actual behavior patterns of members of a group

cultural change

the way society is changed

subculture

a group that is part of the dominant culture bu tat differs from it in some important respects

counterculture

a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture

cultural universals

general cultural traits that exist in al cultures

ethnocentrism

judging others in terms of one’s own cultural standards

socialization

the process of learning to participate in a group

self- concept

an image of yourself as having an identity separate from other people

looking-glass self

an image of yourself based on what you believe others think of you

significant others

those people whose reactions are most important to your self-concept

role taking

assuming the viewpoint of another person and using tat viewpoint to shape the self-concept

imitation stage

Mead’s first stage in the development of role taking; children begin to imitate behaviors without understanding why

play stage

Mead’s second stage in the development of role taking; children act in ways they imagine other people would

game stage

Mead’s third stage in the development of role taking; children anticipate the actions of others based on social rules

generalized other

integrated conception of the norms, values, and beliefs of one’s community or society

“me”

the part of the self formed through socialization

“i”

the part of the self that accounts for unlearned, spontaneous acts

hidden curriculum

the informal and unofficial aspects of culture that children are taught in school

peer group

set of individuals of roughly the same age and interests

mass media

means of communication designed to reach the general population

total institution

places in which people are separated from the rest of society and controlled by officials in charge

desocialization

the process of giving up old norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors

resocialization

the process of adopting new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors

social structure

the pattern of social relationships within a group

status

a position a person occupies within a social structure

ascribed status

a position in a social structure that is neither earned nor chosen but assigned to a person

achieved status

a position in a social structure that is earned or chosen

status set

all the statuses a person occupies at any given time

master statuses

a position that strongly influences most other aspects of a person’s life

role

an expected behavior associated with a particular status

rights

a behavior that individuals expect from others

obligation

a behavior that individuals are expected to perform towards others

role performance

the actual conduct, or behavior, exhibited by people as they carry out role

role conflict

the situation that exists when expectations for or performance of a role in one status clash with expectations for or performance of a role in another status

role strain

the situation that occurs when a person has trouble meeting the many roles connected with a SINGLE status

minority

a group of people who, because of physical or cultural traits, are differentiated from the dominant group in a society and treated unequally