Soci 201 UofC Midterm #1

what is sociology?

scientific study of human society and behaviour

what does sociology focus on?

social relationships, social interactions and culture

what two groups is sociology divided into?

Macrosociology (larger scale, study of social institutions and large social groups)

Microsociology (small scale, study of small groups)

what are examples of macrosociology study?

religious institutions, marriage, sports, visible minorities

what are examples of microsociology?

peer groups, sociology class

what is the goal of sociology?

to help us understand the different institutions/ changes that varies over time, seeing and understanding from different angles and perspectives

Charles Wright Mills belief?

sociological imagination: a vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society

*the individual and society is linked, you have to understand both

sociologoical imagination of personal and public issues?

personal troubles= individual challenges

public issues= issues resulting from larger social factors

Berger beliefs? (2 beliefs)

Seeing the General in the Particular= to see the common features in seemingly unique circumstances

ex= marriage ( we are often influenced by age, social class and race )

&

Seeing the strange in the familiar= helps to understand key concepts

what is agency?

our capacity to make individual choices

what is social structure?

the organized pattern of social relationships in society

* social structure also shapes a groups access to resource (life circumstances)

what are the beliefs of sociology as a science?

-sociology is a science of society

-it is a way for us to see our lives in context

-it helps us to explain our lives to ourselves

- these explanations are systematic from real evidence

what is the objectivity of scientific method?

-follows an organized series of steps

-uses reason/ evidence to interpret an event

-avoids personal bias and prejudice

what is the subjectivity belief?

-studying the lived experience of people adds to our understanding of society

who is the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte

what did August Comte believed that society could do?

he believed that systematic study of human behaviour could improve society

who is Harriet Martineau?

-Translated August Comte work into english

-studied social problems regarding Britain/North America

-Argued that scholars should not just observe society but instead use information to benefit society

who is Herbert Spencer?

-desired to understand society

-did not seek change or improve it

*applied the concept of evolution to societies

what did the industrial revolution do to societies? (European Influences)

-shifted from agriculture to industrial work for wages

-technological advances changed how work was organized

-rural areas to cities

who studied the effects of changes in societies?

Mark, Durkheim and Weber

*MACROSOCIOLOGY VIEW

Who is W.E.B. DuBois?

-Key Founder of American Sociology

-brought the study of structural racism to sociology

what is the influence of the Chicago School?

-studied the impact of individual interpretation of human interaction, theory known as= symbolic interactionists

-MICROSOCIOLOGY VIEW

ex: individuals act differently in different circumstances (rolling your eyes at your friend vs mom)

who is Harold Inns?

-canadian sociologist who studied political economy

- examined relationships of individuals,society and between markets/state

*MICROSOCIOLOGY VIEW

who is John Porter?

-canadian sociologist who examined inequality

*MICROSOCIOLOGY VIEW

what was John Porter book of "the vertical mosaic" about?

-the study of the relationship of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class to inequality in Canada

which class was seen as more superior and less superior within social classes?

-British and French at the top of the hierarchy

-Visible minorities at the bottom of the hierarchy

who is Jim Curtis?

-contemporary canadian sociologist

-studied religion, social inequality, gender, aging, social values and sports

who is Wendy Chan?

-contemporary canadian sociologist

-studies gender, race, and class differences in the justice system and ,marginalized groups

who is Rinaldo Walcott

-contemporary canadian sociologist

- studies black diaspora cultural studies, gender and sexuality

who is Kate Bezanson?

-contemporary canadian sociologist

-studies political economy and development of social, family, and labour market policy

what are the 4 major sociological theoretical perspectives in sociology?

-Functionalism

-Symbolic Interactionism

-Feminist theory

-Conflict theory

what is a theory?

- a set of propositions intended to explain social phenomena

- may be used to predict a phenomenon

-theories can help us understand the relationship between the variables

what did Robert Putman believe?

-the more television watched= less involvement in life

-decline over civic life has been proven over the past years

what is Paul Lazarfled?

-sociologist had input in voting patterns, two step flow model, voter habits/opinion leaders.

what was the two-step flow model

concept that the flow of information and influence from the mass media is presented from the leaders to the public

what are the beliefs of functionalism?

-functionalism focuses on social stability

-functionalism views society as a set of interconnected parts

what is a social institution?

social institution is something that helps society survive ex= legal system, education, religion and etc

what did Talcott Parsons believe? (Functionalism)

-society tends towards balance or equilibrium

what are the functions of society that Robert Merton believe? (Functionalism)

manifest functions= clear outcomes of a social instituion

latent functions= unclear outcomes of a social institution

dysfunctions= a system that is not functioning properly

Who is Emile Durkheim? (Functionalism)

-studied how rapid social change affects social stability

ex= societies grow more complex= people have fewer commonalities= less social solidarity

what could Emile Durkheim Functionalism theory lead to?

anomie= a feeling of normalness within social stability

what are the beliefs of conflict theory?

-conflict theory focus on the important of conflict and change

-they study inequality and exploitation

-they see social life as a continuing struggle for fairness,secuirty and respect

what did Karl Marx focus on? (Conflict Theory)

-focused on capitalism's mode of production

(producing material things we need to survive)

what was Karl Marx social order of the 2 systems? (Conflict Theory)

Bourgeoise= the rich class that owned the industrial production

Poroletariat= poor class worked for a wage and produce profit for the bourgroise

what did Karl Marx believed of the Proletariat?

He believed that the working class could overthrow the bourgeoise owners

what are the beliefs of symbolic interactionism?

-symbolic interactionism focuses on peoples everyday lives very closely

-big focus on meanings, definitions, and interpretations that individuals share in everyday activities

*MICROSOCIOLOGY VIEW

what are the 2 stages of Erving Goffman theory? (Symbolic Interactionism)

Front stage interaction= situations in which you perform in the way people expect, you display parts that we want others to see

Back stage interaction= situations in which you behave in a more real manner (no fake actions)

what did George Herbert Mead focus on? (Symbolic Interactionism)

-Mead argued that we developed our sense of self through social interactions.

- Significant others play a huge role in developing our sense of self

what are the two parts of self as George Herbert Mead described?

- The I= our unsocialized self (impulsive, creative, spontaneous)

- The Me= socialized by significant others

what is double consciousness?

seeing oneself through the eyes of a racist society

What is feminism?

the movement for women's rights (gender inequality)

what is patriarchy?

a cultural system where men dominated all power in a society.

ex: father of bride "giving her to the grooms"

what happened in the first wave of feminism?

-1880-1920

-resulted in (some) women being able to vote

what happened in the second wave of feminism?

-demanded wider social equality for women

-treated women as a group with common experiences

what did Dorothy Smith introduce to feminism?

Standpoint= a view of the world from a marginalized status of being a women

what happened in the third wave of feminism?

focuses on intersectionality which means a woman experience of oppression is unique to her circumstances and must be heard

bell hooks= both race and gender impact women lives and oppressions

what are the 7 sociological research methods?

-Research Idea

-Literature review

-Hypothesis Formulation

-Research Design

-Data Collection

-Data Analysis

-Dissemination of results

what is the research idea method?

-researchers chooses topics on what brings them interest to study on or because it has become a social problem that needs solving

what is the literature review method?

-refers to reviewing previous material about the problem in order to help find evidence for the area of study

what is the formulating an hypothesis method?

-forming a prediction about the relationship between variables that will be tested in research

what are the 3 different kind of variables?

variables= traits that vary over time

dependent variable= the variable that we are trying to predict and explain

independent variable=the variable that we think will change the dependent variable

what is the 3 different kind of research design method?

Quantitative Research= numerical data, large samples and trends over time

Qualitative Research= Focuses on individual experiences, small samples and individuals understanding of their experiences

Mixed Methods= combines two types of research

what is the experiments collecting data method?

-based on controlled lab conditions

-this method is seen to be inaccurate

what is the context analysis collecting data method?

-unobtrusive measures= not relating to participation of respondent

- the analysis came from the content of public communications such as books, websites, media, popular songs and etc

what is the participant observation collecting data method?

-sociologist participates in the social unit being studied

-gain firsthand insights into the activities

(researcher can change their point of view about the study when actually involved)

what is the surveys collecting data method?

-surveys are efficient in collecting information

-researcher must determine the population of interest

what are the 3 different types of sample in a survey?

systematic samples= most accurate

convenience samples= study people who are easily accessible to the researcher

snowball samples= ask participants to suggest the names of other people to study

what is the questionaries in a collecting data method?

-a questionnaires provide a set of questions to respondents (through mail/online)

*response bias of answers may occur

what is the 3 different types of interviews in a collecting data method?

interviews= researcher asks respondents questions through face-to-face or over the phone by retrieving the answers

structure interviews= respondents is asked a standard set of questions all in the same order

unstructured interviews= questions are open ended and freely to ask anything that comes to mind and order can be changed

what is secondary data analysis in a collecting data method?

involves the researcher analyzing the interpret data gathered by other researches within the same study

what are the issues of the data analysis method?

2 major issues is found when analyzing data which is the Validity and Reliability of the sources

what is the dissemination of results method?

this method is the last stage and is done when researchers have gathered all data and now the information needs to be released with the public

such as= publishing books/ articles, presenting at public events/ conferences , shared within community if community related

What is ethics?

ethical guidelines that must be maintained for the study to happen accurately

*truthfulness, no false results, no plagiarism of work, no harm to other participants

what are sets of cultures?

-values

-beliefs

-rules

-behaviours

-objects

-language

what is culture?

-culture is passed from generation to generation

-culure is learned

-culture is socially transmitted and reinforced

what is material culture?

the physical objects that members of a culture create and use

what is non-material culture?

-ideas, beliefs, values

(also known as symbolic culture that we use to interact/communicate)

what are norms?

written and unwritten guidelines of behaviors

what is the difference between positive/ negative sanctions?

positive sanctions= rewards for good behaviour

negative sanctions=punishments for bad behaviour

what is a language?

system for communication shaped by location and culture

What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

The language you have affects how you think.

What is non-verbal communication?

Uses gestures and body language to communicate

what is Pierre Bourdieu (capital complex)?

-we learn (taste) in our families

-this was used by a social group to maintain superiority of other groups to compare cultural (taste)

what is culture universals?

values, beliefs, and practices that people from all cultures share

What is culture shock?

a feeling of uncertainty when we encounter new cultural practices

what is innovation?

-creative tech created by humans everyday

-innovations can have significant cultural impacts to cultural shift in communication ( texting, emojis and etc)

What is diffusion?

the process where cultural practices are transmitted from one group to another

ex= pokemon go, fast food chains and etc

What is a subculture?

-people share elements of the dominant culture

-has its own distinctive values, norms, and behaviours

What is counterculture?

cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society

What is ethnocentrism?

The belief that our own group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures

What is cultural relativism?

recognizing differences across cultures without judging those differences as positive or negative

what is xenocentrism?

judging another's culture to be superior to your own

ex= food from other cultures is better then your own

what is canada culture known as?

canada doesn't have a sense of a strong unified culture instead its known to have a collection of regional cultures

What is multiculturalism?

aspect where many cultures exist (canadian society)

what is the multiculturalism act? (1985)

-mandates equality before the law

-protects people from discrimination

-protects language rights

-allows people to practice any religion

-allows people to maintain their ethnic/social identities

*has solved social inequality

what is the functionalism perspective on culture?

-functionalists believe that cultural practices contribute to social stability

-culture allows understanding to work to goals

what is the symbolic interactionism perspective on culture?

-culture is happened through daily interactions

-our daily interactions define the norms/ values of the cultural group

what is the conflict theory perspective on culture?

-culture serves to maintain the privilege of certain groups

-culture is the dominant ideology of society

*oppressed groups might feel like their group is less important so they adapt the dominate culture instead

what is the feminism perspective on culture?

-norms of behaviour may reinforce gender roles

-cultures reflect societal view of men and women

What is socialization?

-involves learning through social interactions

-it helps individual become a member of society

influenced by social class, gender, ethnicity