Intro Sociology ch 1 and 2 (Intro and research of sociology) openstax

The pioneering researcher who is considered the father of sociology is ________

Auguste Comte.

Describe a situation in which a choice you made was influenced by societal pressures.

To get married when I became pregnant.

Conflict Theory

a theory that looks at society as a competition for limited resources

grand theories

an attempt to explain large-scale relationships and answer fundamental questions such as why societies form and why they change

_____ is a way of understanding the world based on science

Positivism

Which theoretical approach places gender, class, and race at the core of the theory?

conflict theory

A symbolic interactionist may compare social interactions to: a. behaviors b. conflicts c. human organs d. theatrical roles

d. theatrical roles

case study

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

Which would a quantitative sociologist use to gather data? a. A large survey b. A literature search c. An in-depth interview d. A review of television programs

a. A large survey

Who coined the phrase symbolic interactionism? a. Herbert Blumer b. Max Weber c. Lester F. Ward d. W. I. Thomas

a. Herbert Blumer

constructivism

an extension of symbolic interaction theory which proposes that reality is what humans cognitively construct it to be

Which of these theories is most likely to look at the social world on a micro level? a. Structural functionalism b. Conflict theory c. Positivism d. Symbolic interactionism

d. Symbolic interactionism

dysfunctions

social patterns that have undesirable consequences for the operation of society

accuracy

using a tool makes the measuring more precise.

Why Study Sociology?

-See how behavior is "influenced" by society. - Understand (global) inter-dependence - See connection between self / society - See "new" ways of problem solving

A survey is

-research technique for assessing behaviors and attitudes of a sample or population -a research method in which subjects respond to a series of items or questions.

What do you make of Karl Marx's contributions to sociology? What perceptions of Marx have you been exposed to in your society, and how do those perceptions influence your views?

Karl Marx's contribution to sociology are extremely important in identifying the relationship between social conflict and societal change. Marx's perceptions of change caused by struggle has been able to influence my views on things such as global warming and economics. With global warming, our planet is at risk of fatality, pressuring changes to occur and our economy is slipping into despair due to mismanagement, presenting the need for a change in leadership.

dependent variables

a variable changed by other variables

empirical evidence

evidence that comes from direct observations, scientifically gathered data, or experimentation

antipositivism (Max Weber)

the view that social researchers should strive for subjectivity as they worked to represent social processes, cultural norms, and societal values

Write down the first three steps of the scientific method. Think of a broad topic that you are interested in and which would make a good sociological study—for example, ethnic diversity in a college, homecoming rituals, athletic scholarships, or teen driving. Now, take that topic through the first steps of the process. For each step, write a few sentences or a paragraph: 1) Ask a question about the topic. 2) Do some research and write down the titles of some articles or books you'd want to read about the topic. 3) Formulate a hypothesis

1. Ask a question 2. Research existing sources 3. Formulate a hypothesis -Drunk driving. 1. Why do people drive drunk? 2. Think there is no other way home, nothing bad has ever happened to them, are too scared to call for a ride elsewhere 3. If people are provided with safe rides home, then they will not drive drunk

Why do you think the ASA crafted such a detailed set of ethical principles? What type of study could put human participants at risk? Think of some examples of studies that might be harmful. Do you think that, in the name of sociology, some researchers might be tempted to cross boundaries that threaten human rights? Why?

Because of the nature of experiments, particularly the fact that they are often done on living creatures, the ASA needed to craft a detailed set of ethical principles. Any type of study that might injure, defame, or kill human participants would them at risk. I think that some researchers might be tempted to cross boundaries that threaten human rights because it has been done before.

Think of a recent time when you used informal negative sanctions. To what act of deviance were you responding? How did your actions affect the deviant person or persons? How did your reaction help maintain social control?

I always give disapproving looks to people who pack up early during class while the teacher is still talking. Those people always are more quiet after and sometimes even stop the disrespectful disruption.

How do you think taking a sociology course might affect your social interactions?

I hope that, by taking a sociology course, I will become more aware to other's perspectives and feelings towards a subject. I hope that the course will make more more alert to the factors contributing to one's decision and the reasoning behind things that I may not agree with.

Do you tend to place more value on qualitative or quantitative research? Why? Does it matter what topic your are studying?

I tend to place more value on qualitative research as it looks beyond the general standards/statistic shown by society and focuses more on individuals and their viewpoint. When it comes to applying qualitative or quantitative research, the topic being studied is able to influence which type of research to use. For example, if you want to find the average height of women in your town, you would most likely choose quantitative data, but, if you were hoping to identify how people feel about a certain ride at a theme park, you would apply qualitative research.

Which theory do you think better explains how societies operate-structural functionalism or conflict theory? Why?

I think structural functionalism better explains how societies operate. With structural functionalism, you see society as a structure with interrelated parts that all work together to maintain stability, showing the importance of each part of society contributing to a cause. In conflict theory, it view society as more of a competitive setting in which each person fends for their own. I think that society is less individual and more of a structure of people working together.

Do you think the way people behave in social interactions is more like the behavior of animals or more like actors playing a role in a theatrical production? Why?

I think that way people behave in social interactions is, usually, more like actors playing a role in a theatrical production. In social interaction, there is generally back and forth conversation and reactions from what is said within the conversation. Animals do not communicate in such ways, making social interaction more like actors in a theatrical production.

Which of the following best describes sociology as a discipline?

The study of society and social interaction

Why are twin studies an important way to learn about the relative effects of genetics and socialization on children? What questions about human development do you believe twin studies are best for answering? For what types of questions would twin studies not be as helpful?

The twin studies show the effects of shared genetics but were socialized in different ways. Instances of this type of situation are rare, but studying the degree to which identical twins raised apart are the same and different can give researchers insight into the way our temperaments, preferences, and abilities are shaped by our genetic makeup versus our social environment.

Paradigms in Sociology

Theoretical perspectives, 3 main ones in soc, functionalist, conflict and symbolic interactionist (framework or model of the world) -philosophical and theoretical frameworks used within a discipline to formulate theories, generalizations, and the experiments performed in support of them

What do you think C. Wright Mills meant when he said that to be a sociologist, one had to develop a sociological imagination?

To put it simply, sociological imagination is an ability to connect personal challenges to larger social issues. -The promise of the sociological imagination is to allow individuals to understand their place in the broader social and historical context. In order to be a sociologist, we must a see our own and other people's behavior in relationship to history and social structure. Since a sociological imagination is an awareness of the relationship between a person's behavior, experience, and the wider culture that shaped the persons choices/perceptions, Mills meant that being a sociologist required one to look beyond the surface and consider all factors (behavior, environment, society pressures, etc.).

Consider some of the specific issues or concerns of your generation. Are any ideas countercultural? What subcultures have emerged from your generation? How have the issues of your generation expressed themselves culturally? How has your generation made its mark on society's collective culture?

Today, there are many issues of our generation. One specific counterculture example is that of the new age Neo-nazis that have emerged directly in contrast to the culture of today. One subcultures that I am involved in is my sorority. Many of the issues of our generation are expressed through media, and our generation has definitely made its mark on society's collective culture through its digital footprint as well

verstehen

a German word that means to understand in a deep way

society

a group of people who live in a defined geographical area who interact with one another and who share a common culture

culture

a group's shared practices, values, and beliefs

theory

a proposed explanation about social interactions or society

code of ethics

a set of guidelines that the American Sociological Association has established to foster ethical research and professionally responsible scholarship in sociology

The term interpretive framework can be defined as:

a sociological research approach that seeks in-depth understanding of a topic or subject through observation or interaction; this approach is not based on hypothesis testing seeks to understand social worlds from the point of view of participants, which leads to in-depth knowledge. more suited to field research or qualitative research

dynamic equilibrium

a stable state in which all parts of a healthy society work together properly

dramaturgical analysis

a technique sociologists use in which they view society through the metaphor of theatrical performance

hypothesis

a testable educated guess about predicted outcomes between two or more variables

hypothesis

a testable proposition that describes a relationship that may exist between events

functionalism

a theoretical approach that sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of individuals that make up that society

macro-level

a wide-scale view of the role of social structures within a society

Which research technique would most likely be used by a symbolic interactionist? a. Surveys b. Participant observation c. Quantitative data analysis d. None of the above

b. Participant observation

Kenneth and Mamie Clark used sociological research to show that segregation was: a. beneficial b. harmful c. illegal d. of no importance

b. harmful

. C. Wright Mills once said that sociologists need to develop a sociological __________ to study how society affects individuals. a. culture b. imagination c. method d. tool

b. imagination

Which sociological research method is the least likely to produce quantitative data? a. analysis from existing sources b. participant observation c. the survey d. the experiment

b. participant observation

Weber believed humans could not be studied purely objectively because they were influenced by: a. drugs b. their culture c. their genetic makeup d. the researcher

b. their culture

conflict theory of deviance

believe that a society's inequalities are reproduced in its definitions of deviance, so the less powerful are more likely to be criminalized

Which of the following is an example of an unethical sociological research practice? a. Conducting a literature review prior to conducting an experiment b. Drawing conclusions from a study which the hypothesis did not predict c. Observing participants in a study without their consent d. Using a control group and an experimental group during observation

c. Observing participants in a study without their consent

Which of the following best describes sociology as a subject? a. The study of individual behavior b. The study of cultures c. The study of society and social interaction d. The study of economics

c. The study of society and social interaction

Studying sociology helps people analyze data because they learn: a. interview techniques b. to apply statistics c. to generate theories d. all of the above

d. all of the above

conflict theory of education

emphasizes the power and inequality that are part of education as a social institution -Social Control. Middle-class Bias. School tracking. Inequality among schools

Which research method would give a rich, detailed, inside view of a particular group, setting, or subculture?

ethnography

Which theoretical approach uses the analogy of the human body in assessing the role of each part of society in the continuation of society as a whole?

functionalism

field research

gathering data from a natural environment without doing a lab experiment or a survey

qualitative sociology

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

According to the sociological perspective, people's behavior:

is influenced by the social context

debunking

looking beyond the obvious to expose falseness by examining merit, logic, and evidence.

ethnography

participating and observing thinking and behavior in a social setting

social institutions

patterns of beliefs and behaviors focused on meeting social needs

Betta is unemployed; Is it due to individual circumstances (e.g., poor employee, lazy), or might it be due to other circumstances such as high unemployment rates in an economic recession or lack of available vocational training? Asking this question is an example of using _______.

sociological imagination

The significance of the sociological imagination is that:

sociology attempts to understand personal behavior in the larger social context

manifest functions

sought consequences of a social process

significant others

specific individuals that impact a person's life

quantitative sociology

statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants

What kind of research method would be best suited if you were hired by a real estate company to learn how the residents in a gated community feel about racial desegregation?

surveys and interviews

sociological imagination

the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in general and societal structures in particular

social facts

the laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals, and all of the cultural rules that govern social life

generalized others

the organized and generalized attitude of a social group

function

the part a recurrent activity plays in the social life as a whole and the contribution it makes to structural continuity

figuration

the process of simultaneously analyzing the behavior of an individual and the society that shapes that behavior

social solidarity

the social ties that bind a group of people together such as kinship, shared location, and religion

micro-level theories

the study of specific relationships between individuals or small groups

What Is Sociology?

the systematic and scientific study of society and social interaction. In order to carry out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop ways to apply their findings to the real world.

sociology

the systematic study of society and social interaction

reification fallacy

the tendency to accept conditions of everyday life as natural rather than socially constructed.attaching human-like qualities to such concepts as "society" and "culture" an error of treating an abstract concept as though it has a real, material existence

experiment

the testing of a hypothesis under controlled conditions

latent functions

the unrecognized or unintended consequences of a social process

independent variables

variables that cause changes in dependent variables

correlation

when a change in one variable coincides with a change in another variable, but does not necessarily indicate causation

Hawthorne effect

when study subjects behave in a certain manner due to their awareness of being observed by a researcher

advantage of fieldwork as a research method

-It allows us to see a situation from the inside of a particular group. -It provides richer information about social situations than other methods. -It gives the researcher greater flexibility to adjust to different situations.

What type of data do surveys gather? For what topics would surveys be the best research method? What drawbacks might you expect to encounter when using a survey?

A survey collects data from subjects about how they feel and think. Surveys track preferences for presidential candidates, reported individual behaviors or factual information. Drawbacks you can expect to encounter when doing a survey is not getting honest answers or not getting any completed in return at all. Hypothesis: Early school start times causes a decrease in academic performances and productivity Survey: Do you wake up before 7 a.m? Y or N Do you find yourself getting sleepy by 11 a.m? Y or N When you're tired in class, is it hard to focus? Y or N Are your last two class's grades lower than your first two? Y or N if school started later, do you think your grades would improve? Y or N My plan for recruiting a random sample would be to go to a busy mall in the food court area on maybe a Friday or Saturday and hand out my surveys to teens and offer a chance to win a raffle prize along with the submission of the survey.

Explain the correlation between accuracy, validity, and reliability in the research method.

For a measurement to be valid, it has to be reliable. While validity is associated with accuracy, reliability is all about consistency. Therefore, an unreliable measurement cannot be valid. However, a measurement can be reliable without being valid. It is often required for measurements to be both valid and reliable.

Why do you think the ASA crafted such a detailed set of ethical principles? What type of study could put participants at risk? Think of some examples of studies that might be harmful. Do you think that, in the name of sociology, some researches might be tempted to cross boundaries that threaten human rights? Why?

I think the ASA crafted such a detailed set of ethical principles to protect the safety of participants and to get the most honest results of a study. A type of study that might be harmful and put human participants at risk is a new drug study where the drug would have to be tested on people. I think that some sociologists would be tempted to cross boundaries that threaten human rights because they could be close to a breakthrough.

Would you willingly participate in a sociological study that could potentially out your health and safety at risk, but had the potential to help hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of people? For example, would you participate in a study of a new drug that could cure diabetes or cancer, even if it meant great inconvenience and physical discomfort for you or possibly permanent damage?

I wouldn't participate in a sociological study that could potentially put my health and safety at risk. I feel that if a medicine is being studied to cure diabetes or cancer it should be tested on those participants, not healthy individuals because how would they know if it works to cure a disease if its tested on someone who doesn't have the disease? If I did have a disease then I would.

Imagine you are about to do field research in a specific place for a set time. Instead of thinking about the topic of study itself, consider how you as the researcher will have to prepare for the study. What personal, social, and physical sacrifices will you have to make? How will you manage your personal effects? What organizational equipment will you need to collect the data?

To do field research, I would have to prepare myself with the proper clothing and food to last me throughout my study. The sacrifices I would have to make would be not speaking to my family or anyone for a long time and probably not bathing properly and finding shelter.

Create a brief research design about a topic in which you are passionately interested. Now write a letter to a philanthropic or grant organization requesting funding for your study. How can you describe the project in a convincing yet realistic and objective way? Explain how the results of your study will be a relevant contribution to the body of sociological work already in existence.

Violent video games have increased in popularity within the past 10 years, along with mass gun shootings. I can't help but make this connection and feel the need to look further and harder into it. If we could have the funds to follow up on kids who play violent video games day in and day out, kids who play with strict supervision, and kids who don't play at all, we could conclude whether or not this link is as strong as some see it to be, including myself. If the connection is there, we could help solve the problem of all the mass shootings occurring and prevent future ones.

population

a defined group serving as the subject of a study

reliability

a measure of a study's consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a study is reproduced

interview

a one-on-one conversation between the researcher and the subject

value neutrality

a practice of remaining impartial, without bias or judgment during the course of a study and in publishing results

literature review

a scholarly research step that entails identifying and studying all existing studies on a topic to create a basis for new research

interpretive framework

a sociological research approach that seeks in-depth understanding of a topic or subject through observation or interaction; this approach is not based on hypothesis testing

random sample

a study's participants being randomly selected to serve as a representation of a larger population

symbolic interactionism

a theoretical perspective through which scholars examine the relationship of individuals within their society by studying their communication (language and symbols)

To study the effects of fast food on lifestyle, health, and culture, from which group would a researcher ethically be unable to accept funding? a. A fast-food restaurant b. A nonprofit health organization c. A private hospital d. A governmental agency like Health and Social Services

a. A fast-food restaurant

Which research approach is best suited to the scientific method? a. Questionnaire b. Case study c. Ethnography d. Secondary data analysis

a. Questionnaire

Validity refers to actually measuring what you intend to measure. a. True b. False

a. True

The main difference between ethnography and other types of participant observation is: a. ethnography isn't based on hypothesis testing b. ethnography subjects are unaware they're being studied c. ethnographic studies always involve minority ethnic groups d. ethnography focuses on how subjects view themselves in relationship to the community

a. ethnography isn't based on hypothesis testing

. A sociologist defines society as a group of people who reside in a defined area, share a culture, and who: a. interact b. work in the same industry c. speak different languages d. practice a recognized religion

a. interact

Using secondary data is considered an unobtrusive or ________ research method .a. nonreactive b. nonparticipatory c. nonrestrictive d. nonconfrontive

a. nonreactive

positivism

an approach to the study of society that relies specifically on empirical scientific evidence, such as controlled experiments and statistics. a belief that we should not go beyond the boundaries of what can be observed

scientific method

an established scholarly research that involves asking a question, researching existing sources, forming a hypothesis, designing a data collection method, gathering data, and drawing conclusions

What would a symbolic interactionist say is involved in nearly all social interactions?

an exchange of symbols

content analysis

applying a systematic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand

Which materials are considered secondary data? a. Photos and letters given to you by another person b. Books and articles written by other authors about their studies c. Information that you have gathered and now have included in your results d. Responses from participants whom you both surveyed and interviewed

b. Books and articles written by other authors about their studies

. Which of the following was a topic of study in early sociology? a. Astrology b. Economics c. Physics d. History

b. Economics

The conflict perspective is most likely to look at the social world on a micro level. a. True b. False

b. False symbolic interactionism

Which statement illustrates value neutrality? a. Obesity in children is obviously a result of parental neglect and, therefore, schools should take a greater role to prevent it b. In 2003, states like Arkansas adopted laws requiring elementary schools to remove soft drink vending machines from schools c. Merely restricting children's access to junk food at school is not enough to prevent obesity d. Physical activity and healthy eating are a fundamental part of a child's education

b. In 2003, states like Arkansas adopted laws requiring elementary schools to remove soft drink vending machines from schools

Which best describes the results of a case study? a. It produces more reliable results than other methods because of its depth b. Its results are not generally applicable c. It relies solely on secondary data analysis d. All of the above

b. Its results are not generally applicable

Which founder of sociology believed societies changed due to class struggle? a. Emile Comte b. Karl Marx c. Plato d. Herbert Spencer

b. Karl Marx

Who believed that the history of society was one of class struggle? a. Emile Durkheim b. Karl Marx c. Erving Goffmann d. George Herbert Mead

b. Karl Marx

In social research, _______is attempted by minimizing a sociologist's personal bias. a. Peer review b. Objectivity c. Replication d. Double blind

b. Objectivity

The 1st step of the scientific method: a. Collect and analyze data b. Summarize the articles c. Ask a question about a topic d. Create a hypothesis

c. Ask a question about a topic

Which statement provides the best operational definition of "childhood obesity"? a. Children who eat unhealthy foods and spend too much time watching television and playing video games b. A distressing trend that can lead to health issues including type 2 diabetes and heart disease c. Body weight at least 20 percent higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height d. The tendency of children today to weigh more than children of earlier generations

c. Body weight at least 20 percent higher than a healthy weight for a child of that height

Berger describes sociologists as concerned with: a. monumental moments in people's lives b. common everyday life events c. both a and b d. none of the above

c. both a and b

What did the Clarks use in their experiment noted in Exercise 1.13? a. children and dogs b. adults and dolls c. children and dolls d. adults and pets

c. children and dolls

Seeing patterns means that a sociologist needs to be able to: a. compare the behavior of individuals from different societies b. compare one society to another c. identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure d. compare individuals to groups

c. identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure

. Berger writes that sociology a. is not an academic discipline b. makes the strange familiar c. makes the familiar strange d. is not a science

c. makes the familiar strange

What research method did John S. Lynd and Helen Merrell Lynd mainly use in their Middletown study? a. Secondary data b. Survey c. Participant observation d. Experiment

c. participant observation

A measurement is considered ________ if it actually measures what it is intended to measure, according to the topic of the study. a. reliable b. sociological c. valid d. quantitative

c. valid

Sociological studies test relationships in which change in one ________ causes change in another. a. test subject b. behavior c. variable d. operational definition

c. variable

The difference between positivism and antipositivism relates to: a. whether individuals like or dislike their society b. whether research methods use statistical data or person-to-person research c. whether sociological studies can predict or improve society d. all of the above

c. whether sociological studies can predict or improve society

surveys

collect data from subjects who respond to a series of questions about thinking, behaviors, and opinions, often in the form of a questionnaire

Why is choosing a random sample an effective way to select participants? a. Participants do not know they are part of a study b. The researcher has no control over who is in the study c. It is larger than an ordinary sample d. Everyone has the same chance of being part of the study

d. Everyone has the same chance of being part of the study

Which person or organization defined the concept of value neutrality? a. Institutional Review Board (IRB) b. Peter Rossi c. American Sociological Association (ASA) d. Max Weber

d. Max Weber-to overcome a sociologists own biases

In a study, a group of ten-year-old boys are fed doughnuts every morning for a week and then weighed to see how much weight they gained. Which factor is the dependent variable? a. The doughnuts b. The boys c. The duration of a week d. The weight gained

d. The weight gained

quantitative data

data collected in numerical form that can be counted and analyzed using statistics

primary data

data that are collected directly from firsthand experience

qualitative data

non-numerical, descriptive data that is often subjective and based on what is experienced in a natural setting

samples

small, manageable number of subjects that represent the population

operational definitions

specific explanations of abstract concepts that a researcher plans to study

validity

the degree to which a sociological measure accurately reflects the topic of study

secondary data analysis

using data collected by others and applying new interpretations

nonreactive research

using secondary data, does not include direct contact with research subjects and does not alter or influence people's behaviors

participant observation (fieldwork)

when a researcher immerses herself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an "insider" perspective