core study society and culture

what is Society?

A group of people living together in a community with common traditions, interests and institutions

What is Culture?

Knowledge shared by members of groups and systems and which are reflected in their customs, values, laws, arts, technologies and artefacts; their way of life

What is Gender?

Socially constructed differences between females and males

What are technologies?

The tools that we use to assist our interactions in society

What is power?

The ability or capacity to influence or persuade others to a point of view or action to which they would not normally agree

What is Authority?

The rights to make decisions and to determine, adjudicate or settle issues and disputes in society

What is Identity?

The sense of self-formed over time from a personal, social and cultural level

What are Beliefs?

Tenets or convictions that people hold to be true

What is Empowerment?

A social process whereby individuals and groups can make decisions, take action and to some extent, control their future

What are the features of qualitative research?

Research is based on the quality of data and is subjective. It is more personal which provides the opportunity for opinions to be utilised in research (e.g open-ended questions)

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a content analysis?

characteristics: it analyses any form of media to interpret themes and ideas
strengths: can gain both qualitative and quantitative data
weaknesses: ethical concerns regarding copyrighted sources

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of an interview?

characteristics: uses open-ended questions
strengths: can gain an in depth perspective on topic
weaknesses: person may not be comfortable answering questions

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a statistical analysis?

characteristics: predicts different numerical data and analyses it
strengths: easily represented information
weaknesses: can't be used to identify reasons

What is Social Change?

Contributing forces that fit together to form a unique situation in which change occurs

What is Transformative change?

Dramatic change over a short time frame (e.g women's suffrage, feminism)

Impact of Modernisation

- Urbanisation - moving to an urban living setting from a rural town
- Technology - driverless trains in Sydney

What is the relationship between Modernisation and Westernisation?

- Western countries have historically been at the forefront of modernisation, so often modernisation can be considered to be derived from Westernisation
- Modernisation can then also lead to the erosion of traditional values in favour of Western values

What is a Social Theory?

A social theory refers to explanations, arguments, hypotheses, and speculations about the nature of humans and human social life

Processes and agents of Social Change

STEEP:
- Socio-cultural: improvements in education, changes in gender roles
- Technological: cures for diseases
- Economic: globalisation
- Environmental: climate change
- Political: democratisation

Main idea of Evolutionary Theory

Humans of today carry with them genetically guided characteristics passed from generation to generation that have contributed to survival and reproductive success

Main idea of Functionalist Theory

Society is seen as a complex system whose parts work together (institutions, roles, norms, etc) to promote the long-term survival of the society

Main idea of Interactionist Theory

Individuals learn about society through interactions with other people, and ways of communication such as language can only be learned through interactions

What is an example of Power and Authority in Western society?

- Power: The influence popular celebrities or online personalities have over their audience
- Authority: The prevention of social issues like sexual assault and alcohol abuse

What is the impact of continuity and change on the lives of groups and individuals in South Africa? (macro)

Continuity: The white population still primarily controls the economy
Change: Shift of government power from white majority to black majority

What was the impact of these policies on individuals and groups?

- The Natives Land Act caused poverty from the land dispossession of Black South Africans
- The Bantu Education Act caused Black South Africans to receive an education that would limit their educational potential so they would stay in the working class
- The Population Registration Act caused Black South Africans to lose rights and face oppression

How does Conflict theory relate to change and continuity in South Africa?

White South Africans owned the means of production and controlled the land often taking what they wanted by force. Despite the change in government power shifting to a black majority, White power remains having this control

How does Interactionist theory relate to change and continuity in South Africa?

South Africa's crime rates have changed as they have only increased, which relates to the theory's concept of how criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others

Current trends in relation to change and continuity in the legal system in South Africa

Currently, South Africa's government's land reform programme has failed to distribute farmland ownership to black South Africans
This can be viewed as a continuity of the Apartheid regime

The importance of Technologies in South Africa

- There is a Digital Divide: Access to affordable and reliable internet connectivity remains a significant challenge, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas
- This is a problem as Technology has the power to help level the economic playing field in South Africa, facilitating more and better access to money and access to jobs

Technologies in South Africa: probable continuities

the growth of social media will continue providing South Africans to communicate and learn in social forums using online technology

What are Persons?

The individual human; their relationships with other persons and with society, culture and the environment through time

What is Environment?

Settings where people live and work, the interaction between people and their environment, people's perceptions of the environment, and their actions to improve their environment

What is Time?

The continuous passage of existence; perceptions of the past, present and future

What is Globilisation?

A process of integration and the sharing of goods, capital, services, knowledge, leisure, sport, ideas and culture between countries brought about by improved technologies

What is Modernisation?

The transformation from a traditional, rural, agrarian society to a secular, urban, industrial society

What is Sustainability?

The ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time

What is Change?

The alteration or modification of cultural elements in a society

What is Continuity?

The persistence or consistent existence of cultural elements in a society across time

What is Tradition?

Ideas and beliefs passed down from one generation to the next

What are Values?

A culture's standard for discerning what is good and just in society

What is Westernisation?

The process by which a country or society adopts the customs and institutions that are said to characterise the Western world

What is Cooperation?

The ability of humans to work together toward common goals and is required for survival

What is Conflict?

A perceived incompatibility of goals or actions

What are the ordered steps in the process of research?

1. Decide on the topic to research
2. Develop a focus question or hypothesis
3. Gather background information
4. Design the research i.e choosing methods
5. Develop the research methods to be used
6. Apply the research methods ethically
7. Compile and organise collected information
8. Analyse, synthesise and interpret the findings
9. Write up the conclusions whilst considering audience
10. Check the final product for editing

What are the features of primary research methods?

Original information or research data is collected first-hand by the person doing the research. This new information is collected using the methods of social research

What are the features of secondary research methods?

Secondary research is a qualitative method because the researcher makes subjective judgements about what material is useful, and therefore used for the research. Secondary research information can be derived from formal reports, journals, newspapers, magazines and other publications

What are the features of quantitative research?

Research is represented numerically and is objective. It is based on quantity, (e.g trends, data and statistics)

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a case study?

characteristics: it is qualitative as it is an in-depth study of individual or group
strengths: can combine a variety of research methods
weaknesses: prone to bias

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a focus group?

characteristics: discussion with small group
strengths: good in gaining variety of perspectives
weaknesses: bias in group selection and conflict

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of an observation?

characteristics: it is quantitative as it collects and counts data
strengths: immediate results (objective data)
weaknesses: results lack depth

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a personal reflection?

characteristics: one uses and analyses their personal experience
strengths: it is qualitative as there is deeper insight into topic weaknesses: highly subjective and could be biased

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of secondary research?

characteristics: accessing existing data
strengths: can gain wider perspective on topic
weaknesses: biased as they select what information is important

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of participant observation?

characteristics: one is immersed in what they are observing
strengths: can gain deeper understanding based on interactions
weaknesses: ethical concerns

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of a questionnaire?

characteristics: a series of unchangeable questions sent to large group of people
strengths: can gain both qualitative and quantitative data
weaknesses: questions can be misinterpreted

Why is Change a complex process?

- It is inevitable (e.g. rapid development of technology)
- It is a non-linear process (e.g same-sex marriage legislation does not mean homophobia has ended)

What is Evolutionary change?

A slow, incremented change which occurs over a long period of time (e.g demographic changes through births and deaths)

What is resistance to change?

The reluctance or opposition individuals or groups may exhibit when faced with changes in their environment, processes, or beliefs (e.g. overturning Roe V Wade)

Impact of continuity and change at micro level

- Technology ( communication with family ) e.g WhatsApp, facetime
- Changes to personal identity through socialisation ( ev change )
- Transition from primary to high school ( tran change )

Impact of continuity and change at meso level

- Communities react and adapt to change (e.g Australian communities have adapted to promote Indigenous art)
- Indigenous communities that follow traditional values ( resis change )

Impact of continuity and change at macro level

- Government has not changed the age to vote
- The passing of marriage equality law in aus in 2017 ( Ev change )

Impact of Westernisation

- The spread of beliefs, values , technology and western languages to asian and African countries (e.g adopting English instead of a native language)
- can lead to erosion of traditional culture

What are Structural changes within society?

- rules within groups and institutions (e.g increasing gender equality in western countries)

Directions of Change

Theorists explain patterns of change
- Questioning the subjective nature of progress
-Debating over whether change equates to progress and questioning subjective nature of progress (e.g gender equality, equal access to technology)

Main idea of Conflict Theory

Society consists of different classes always competing for limited resources and control

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of Conflict theory?

Characteristics: often used to explain wars and revolutions, applies at the macro level
Strengths: explores dynamic between competing groups, helps theorists analyse group dynamics at macro level
Weaknesses: doesn't include major changes such as technological innovations, works well at macro but not at micro

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of Evolutionary theory?

Characteristics: Explores how change is a linear process, applies at the macro level
Strengths: basic explanation of how society changes within western world, explains social changes at macro scale
Weaknesses: assumes all societies will follow (doesn't account for globalisation and cultural diffusion) takes perspective that change equals progress (debatable)

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of Functionalist theory?

Characteristics: Addresses how groups in societies have interconnected relationships in order for them to function and maintain social stability, applies at the meso and macro level
Strengths: Every structure has a function that meets need of society, all structures work together to maintain a functioning society
Weaknesses: doesn't take conflict or social change in consideration, only focuses on the macro level

What are the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of Interactionist theory?

Characteristics: People attach meaning to symbols that require interpretation to understand. The meaning can be disrupted over time due to changing social values, applies at the micro level
Strengths: helps explain social order, takes into account the changing nature of individuals perceptions
Weaknesses: doesn't take macro social change into account, dependent on individual experiences

What are examples of Tradition in South Africa?

Zulu Tradition:
- No formal legal system
- Mthentho; series of laws inherited by the tribe
- It is the duty of of the tribe to observe these laws and customs

How is Power demonstrated in South Africa?

Men have more power in the Zulu Tribe
- Every woman belongs in the care of a man
- Adultery is a sin against the man who owns the woman
- Adultery punishment is the death of both parties

How is Authority demonstrated in South Africa?

The Zulu Tribe is a patriarchal society where men are the head of families

What is the impact of continuity and change on the lives of groups and individuals in South Africa? (micro)

Continuity: Housing can be unaffordable and unhabitable for older people
Change: The Older Persons Act, 2006 is intended to protect and promote the security of older persons

What is the impact of continuity and change on the lives of groups and individuals in South Africa? (meso)

Continuity: There is still a divide within schools due to economic and social differences between many black and white people
Change: Schools became officially integrated

Who were the dominant political parties in South Africa during Apartheid?

The National Party (In dominant power, conservative, promoted segregation)
The Progressive Party (opposition to Apartheid)

What are some examples of legislation in Apartheid?

- The Natives Land Act, 1913 limited land ownership by black people to 8% of the land area of South Africa
- The Bantu Education Act, 1953 enforced racially-separated educational facilities
- The Population Registration Act, 1950 required that each inhabitant of South Africa be classified and registered in accordance with racial characteristics

What is an example of change in relation to the legal system and political processes in South Africa?

Nelson Mandela becoming president in 1994 working with the African National Congress to end Apartheid

What is an example of continuity in relation to the legal system and political processes in South Africa?

President Jacob Zuma called for the deprivation of agricultural land without compensation

What is an example of how change is progress in South Africa?

The range of social programmes and services which have been implemented, such as family planning have resulted in a decrease in infant mortality

What is an example of how change isn't progress in South Africa?

The 2004 Social Assistance Act guarantees older people home-based care and support services, however, hundreds of thousands of older people are unable to access the basic care and support services they are entitled

Which groups benefit from change in South Africa? Why?

Young children benefit from change as they now learn both English and at least one African language at school e.g. Zulu

Which groups do not benefit from change in South Africa? Why?

The elderly do not benefit from change as they continue to be deprived of access to basic care and support

How has access to technologies impacted on the rate and direction of change in South Africa?

Despite increased internet access, only 10% of households have internet access in their home, with the majority needing to go to work in order to have an internet connection

How does Evolutionary theory relate to change and continuity in South Africa?

The shift in production has changed, leading to greater economic surplus and this more distributable wealth
However, poverty continues to be a major issue

How does Functionalist theory relate to change and continuity in South Africa?

South Africa's 'social order' has changed through socialisation
However, social structures are unstable and crime is alarmingly high compared with other countries

STEEP factors affecting South Africa in the future

Social: It could become more likely for people to stay educated rather than drop out
Technological: Schools having computers/iPads to have learning tools on
Economic: Inflation could rise, and families would not be able to afford tuition
Environmental: Drought schools will shut down, less enrolment
Political: New political party could take away funding for schools

Technologies in South Africa: likely changes

Distance learning many be implemented as South African students suffer from a lack of residential universities and institutions

Pluralism

A situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc., are together in a society but continue to have their different traditions and interests