midterm

Sociology

The study of society, social institutions and social relationships.

Sociological imagination

The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social influences.

Microsociology

The study of small-scale social interactions and their implications.

Macrosociology

The analysis of large-scale social systems and patterns.

Pure science

Research aimed at gaining knowledge for its own sake.

Applied science

Research directed towards solving practical problems.

Class consciousness

Awareness of one’s social class and its implications.

Verstehen

A German term meaning 'understanding', used to describe the interpretive approach of understanding social behavior.

Hawthorne effect

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

Cultural relativism

The practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of another culture.

Norms

Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members.

Role conflict

A situation where an individual faces competing expectations from different social roles.

Primary groups

Small social groups whose members share personal and lasting relationships.

Secondary groups

Larger, more impersonal groups that are task-focused and time-limited.

Symbolic Interactionism

A sociological perspective that focuses on the meanings individuals ascribe to social phenomena.

Conflict Theory

A theoretical framework that sees society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources.

Structural Functionalism

A framework that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.

Feminist Theory

A theoretical perspective that seeks to understand and address the inequalities faced by women.

Industrial Revolution

A period of significant industrial growth and societal change which began in the late 18th century.

Civil Rights Movement

A social movement aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

Women’s Suffrage of 1920

The legal right granted to women to vote in the United States.

Social Security Act of 1935

A law enacted to provide financial assistance to the elderly and unemployed.

Equal Pay Act

A law aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex.

Title IX of Education Amendments Act

A federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities.