socio aice 111

FUNCTIONALISM

Q: What is Functionalism in sociology?
A: A consensus theory that sees society as a stable system where institutions work together to maintain social order.

Q: Who introduced the concept of "social facts"?
A: Émile Durkheim.

Q: What are social facts?
A: External, collective norms and values that constrain individual behavior (e.g., laws, religion).

Q: What is value consensus?
A: Shared norms and values that help maintain social stability and cooperation.

Q: What is anomie?
A: A state of normlessness during rapid social change, leading to breakdown of social order.

Q: What is the organic analogy?
A: Society is like a human body—institutions (like organs) work together to maintain the whole.

Q: What is a manifest function?
A: The intended, obvious purpose of an institution (e.g., education teaches skills).

Q: What is a latent function?
A: Hidden, unintended effects (e.g., education reproducing class inequality).

Q: Criticism of Functionalism?
A: Ignores inequality and conflict; assumes all institutions benefit everyone.

🔹 MARXISM

Q: What is the main focus of Marxism?
A: Class conflict between bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers).

Q: What is false consciousness?
A: When the working class is misled to believe capitalism is fair.

Q: What role do schools play in capitalism according to Althusser?
A: They act as Ideological State Apparatuses, promoting obedience.

Q: How do Marxists view welfare policies?
A: As a way to prevent revolution by reducing discontent without real change.

Q: Marxist solution to inequality?
A: Revolution to abolish class and create equality.

🔹 FEMINISM

Q: What is patriarchy?
A: A system where men hold more power and dominate society.

Q: What are the three waves of feminism?
A: 1st – Suffrage, 2nd – Workplace & reproductive rights, 3rd – Intersectionality & modern issues.

Q: What does Liberal Feminism seek?
A: Gender equality through laws (e.g., Equal Pay Act).

Q: What does Radical Feminism believe?
A: Patriarchy is deeply embedded and must be challenged at all levels of society.

Q: What is Marxist Feminism?
A: Argues capitalism exploits women through unpaid labor and reproduction of workers.

Q: What is Intersectional Feminism?
A: Recognizes how gender combines with race, class, etc., for complex oppression.

Q: Sylvia Walby’s Six Patriarchal Structures?
A: State, Violence, Domestic Labor, Paid Work, Sexuality, Culture.

🔹 SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

Q: What is Symbolic Interactionism?
A: A micro theory focused on meanings created through everyday interaction.

Q: What is the "looking-glass self"?
A: Cooley’s idea that our self-concept develops through how we think others see us.

Q: What is labeling theory?
A: Becker’s idea that being labeled (e.g., "deviant") influences how people act.

Q: What is the self-fulfilling prophecy?
A: A prediction that causes itself to become true due to the response it triggers.

Q: What is a labeling career?
A: When a label becomes a person’s master status (e.g., ex-convict).

Q: What is Goffman's dramaturgy?
A: Life is like a performance with "front stage" (public role) and "back stage" (private self).

Q: Criticism of Interactionism?
A: Ignores larger social structures like class or patriarchy.

🔹 MAX WEBER / SOCIAL ACTION THEORY

Q: What is Verstehen?
A: Deep, empathetic understanding of human behavior from the individual’s point of view.

Q: Weber’s 4 types of social action?
A: Instrumental-rational, Value-rational, Traditional, Affectual.

Q: Weber’s two levels of explanation?
A: 1. Structural causes (e.g., capitalism), 2. Subjective meanings (e.g., Protestant beliefs).

🔹 RESEARCH METHODS

Q: What is Positivism?
A: Belief that society should be studied scientifically using objective, quantitative methods.

Q: What is Interpretivism?
A: Belief that researchers must understand social meanings through qualitative methods.

Q: Key features of Positivist research?
A: Objectivity, reliability, causality, large samples, surveys.

Q: Key features of Interpretivist research?
A: Validity, verstehen, small samples, interviews, observations.

Q: What is triangulation?
A: Using more than one method to increase reliability and validity.

Q: Define reliability.
A: Consistency—research can be repeated with the same results.

Q: Define validity.
A: Accuracy—research truly reflects what it's supposed to study.

Q: What is a hypothesis?
A: A testable statement predicting a relationship (e.g., income affects education).

Q: What is a pilot study?
A: A small-scale test of a research method before the full study.

Q: What is ethnography?
A: Immersing in a group to study its culture (e.g., living with a gang).

Q: What is a case study?
A: An in-depth look at one case/group (e.g., one school’s bullying policy).

Q: What is longitudinal research?
A: Study conducted over a long time to track change (e.g., a cohort of students over 10 years).

🔹 ETHICS & PRACTICAL ISSUES

Q: What is informed consent?
A: Participants agree to take part, knowing all aspects of the study.

Q: What is covert research?
A: Studying people without their knowledge—raises serious ethical concerns.

Q: Why is confidentiality important?
A: Protects identities and builds trust.

Q: Examples of practical issues in research?
A: Cost, time, access to subjects, researcher’s skills, danger.