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Social construction

An idea or practice that people collectively agree exists; products of culture and history.

Social order

The patterned behavior and rule conformity that make social structures possible.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices.

Structure

The social systems that influence individuals' behaviors and choices.

Social Change

The dynamic nature of social life; how social life evolves over time.

Sociology

The systematic study of society and social interaction.

Microsociology

The analysis of small-scale interactions between individuals.

Macrosociology

The analysis of large-scale social structures and populations.

Cultural universals

Patterns or traits that are widely common to all societies.

Ethnocentrism

The evaluation of other cultures based on one's own cultural standards.

Symbolic interactionism

A theoretical perspective that examines the relationship of individuals within their society through communication.

C. Wright Mills

Sociologist known for the concept of the sociological imagination.

Dependency variables

Variables that are affected or changed by other variables.

Independent variables

Variables that cause changes in dependent variables.

Globalization

The integration of international trade and finance markets across the globe.

Sanctions

Methods used to encourage conformity to cultural norms and values.

Values

A culture’s standards for what is good and just.

Folkways

Casual behaviors that are widely observed and guide social conduct.

Mores

Moral views and principles that a group holds.

Subcultures

Groups that share specific identifications, distinct from the larger society.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The theory that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview.

Social control

Practices that encourage conformity to cultural norms.

Reification

The error of treating an abstract concept as though it has a real, material existence.

Dysfunctions

Social patterns that have undesirable consequences for the operation of society.

Functionalism

A theoretical approach that views society as a system comprised of interrelated parts that work together.

Grand theories

Theories that attempt to explain large-scale relationships in society.

Dramaturgical analysis

A sociological perspective viewing society as a theatrical performance.

Hawthorne effect

The alteration of behavior by study subjects due to their awareness of being observed.

Cultural lag

The gap between the introduction of material culture and the acceptance of non-material culture.

Beliefs

Convictions that individuals hold to be true.

Discoveries

New things or ideas that are found based on existing knowledge.

Case study

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

Participant observation

A research method in which the researcher immerses themselves in the environment being studied.

Operational definitions

Explicit definitions of abstract concepts in research.

Interviews

One-on-one conversations used to collect qualitative data.

Surveys

A method for collecting data through a series of questions posed to subjects.

Secondary data analysis

The use of data collected by others to conduct new analyses.

Experiment

A method of testing a hypothesis under controlled conditions.

Field research

Data gathering that occurs in natural settings without laboratory conditions.

Validity

The degree to which a measure accurately reflects what it is intended to measure.