Introduction to Sociology – Exam Review Flashcards

A set of 52 question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts, theories, research methods, and cultural terms from the introductory sociology lecture notes.

What is symbolic interactionism?

is often used to understand what’s defined as deviant within a society

How does the textbook define sociology?

The systematic study of society and social interaction.

Who coined the term “positivism” and is considered the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte

What is C. Wright Mills’ concept of the sociological imagination?

The ability to understand one’s own and others’ past in relation to history and social structure.

Define what is a hypothesis?

A testable proposition about the relationship between two or more variables.

What is figuration?

the process of simutaneously analyzing the behavior of individuals and the society that shapes that behavior

What is a paradigm?

A philosophical or theoretical framework used to formulate theories, generalizations, and supporting research.

Which theorist argued that social change results from class struggle over the means of production and strongly favored communism?

Karl Marx

Which theorist held that people rise to their proper level in society based on meritocracy?

Émile Durkheim

What does macro-level analysis focus on?

Large-scale social structures and processes affecting an entire society.

What does micro-level analysis examine?

Specific interactions and relationships among individuals or small groups.

Define structural functionalism

As a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the needs of its members.

Define Qualitative Sociology

in depth interactions, focus groups, and/or analysis of content sources as the source of its data

Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and Karl Marx were advocates of what

Conflict theory

What does symbolic interactionism study?

How individuals create and interpret symbols, language, and communication in social life.

Weber’s idea of antipositivism encouraged researchers to do what?

Seek a subjective understanding of human culture and norms.

According to Durkheim, what are social facts?

Religious beliefs, laws, customs

Define Verstehen

To understand social actions in a deep, empathetic way.

What is secondary data ?

Using data collected by others and applying new interpretations to it.

How is reliability defined?

A measure of a study’s consistency and replicability.

What is the Hawthorne effect?

When research subjects alter their behavior because they know they are being observed.

What is the dependent variable?

Dependent is a variable changed by other variables

What’s a independent variable?

Independent variable is a variable that causes change in dependent variables.

What is an interpretive framework in research?

An approach that seeks in-depth understanding of a topic through observation and interaction rather than hypothesis testing.

What is nonreactive research?

Research using secondary data that has no direct contact with subjects and does not influence their behavior.

What is a case study in sociology?

An in-depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual.

What is the main purpose of the American Sociological Association’s Code of Ethics?

To ensure financial gain of the researchers

What is value neutrality?

Remaining impartial and unbiased throughout research and publication.

Collecting historical newspaper clippings for analysis is an example of what research method?

Secondary data

What is considered unethical sociological research practice

Observing participants without their consent

What is survey research?

Gathering data by asking respondents a series of questions about thoughts, behaviors, or opinions often in form of a questionaire.

What is field research?

Collecting data in a natural environment without conducting a lab experiment or survey.

What is an experiment in sociology?

Testing a hypothesis under controlled conditions.

What is secondary data

Using data collected by other and applying new interpretations

Why is interpretive work important to sociologists?

It provides in-depth knowledge of participants’ social worlds.

List the basic steps of the scientific method used in sociological research.

1) Ask a question, 2) Review existing sources, 3) Formulate a hypothesis, 4) Design and conduct the study, 5) Draw conclusions.

What is reliability and what is it used for?

A measurement of a study’s consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a study is reproduced

What is participant observation?

A method in which the researcher immerses themselves in a group or setting to observe from an insider’s perspective.

Can society exist without culture or vice versa?

No; society and culture are interdependent and cannot exist without each other.

What is ethnocentrism?

Evaluating and judging another culture based on the standards of one’s own culture.

What is xenocentrism?

The belief that another culture is superior to one's own, often leading to an undervaluation of one's own cultural practices. (Opposite of ethnocentrism)

What is a cultural universal?

A pattern, trait, or institution common to all known societies.

What is an example of a cultural universal?

Incest taboos

What is cultural imperialism?

The deliberate imposition of one culture’s values on another culture.

How are values defined in sociology?

Cultural standards used to decide what is good and just in society.

What is social control?

Mechanisms a society uses to encourage conformity to cultural norms.

What would consist of not be a formal norm in the U.S?

Eye contact while speaking

What is the difference between amures and folkways?

Amures may carry serious consequences if violated; folkways do not

Define language?

A symbolic system through which people communicate and culture is transmitted.

What is popular culture?

Mainstream, widespread cultural patterns among a society’s general population.

What is high culture?

Cultural patterns associated with a society’s elite.

What is a counterculture?

A group that strongly rejects dominant societal norms and values while existing within the larger society.

What is an informal sanction?

A spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval in face-to-face interaction.