SP Exam 1 Study Guide (chapter one)

Many- but not all- social problems can be solved. (# 7 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

Sociologists believe that many social problems can be reduced if not eliminated entirely. Some situations that harm few and benefit most can be difficult to change. Sometimes problems that everyone wants to solve will have no solution.

Various social problems are related. (# 8 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

Addressing one social problem may in turn help other problems. This happens because social problems are rooted in the operation of a society. It is also true that solving one problem may create a new problem.

Definitions of problems change over time. (# 5 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

As time goes on standards and ideas of society change. Example: 60 years ago interracial marriage was illegal, now it is legal in all states.

Definition of social problems

Definition: A condition that undermines the well-being of some or all members of a society and is usually a matter of public controversy. Condition refers to any situation that is troublesome. Also hurts people by immediate harm or by limiting their choices. They spark public controversy. Can affect little to a large group of people.

Survey Research

Definition: A research method in which subjects respond to items on a questionnaire or in an interview. Success depends on ability to locate the people you want to question. Interview is a more personal technique. Interviews take a lot of time so that can limit the amount of people in this method. Case study focuses on a particular person or event. Cannot generalize their results but they get in depth understanding.

Claim making

Definition: The process of convincing the public and important public officials that a particular issue or situation should be defined as a social problem. Begin when people reject a status quo. Step 1: create controversy by convincing people that the current situation is not acceptable. Continues as people discover what needs to be done in order to fix the problem. Mass media is important because it coveys the message to more people. After the situation is recognized other groups may counter it- Usually two positions involved. Success is often marked when a law is passed.

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach

Definition: Theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another. Learning Theory claims that people learn troublesome attitudes and behaviors from others around them. Labeling theory states that the reality of any situation depends on how people define it. How people socially construct reality. Doesn't address race or class. Micro Level.

Secondary Analysis Research

Definition: a research method that makes use of data originally collected by others. All data isn't accurate. Quick and easy. Can look at government data like the census. Researcher may be unaware of someones bias or error.

Experimental Research

Definition: research method for investigating cause-and-effect relationships under tightly controlled conditions. Carried out in designed laboratories, not real world.

Field Research

Definition: research method for observing people while doing them in everyday activities.-ethnography Researchers must balance their observations and involvement to stay aware of the issues. Takes a lot of time

The Structural-Functional Approach

Definition: theoretical framework that sees society as a system of many interrelated parts. Main parts of systems are social institutes (major spheres of social life, or societal subsystems, organized to meet a basic human need). Examples: a family is a system that raises children, schools provide young people with skills for adult life, political system sets national goals a priorities. Early theory saw society as if it were a living organism. This lead to the social pathology theory (model that treats social problems as a disruption in society's normal operations, like a disease can hurt an organisms operations). Social problems were a result of weak or bad people. Social darwinism was popular in the rich. Harsh competition in society was good because is guaranteed survival of the fittest. Social disorganization theory: holds that problems arise when society breaks down due to social change that occurs too rapidly. Recent Functionalism: some good things, "manifest functions" and "latent functions," can also result in some bad things, "dysfunctions." Importance has declined Macro Level.

The Social-Conflict Approach

Definition: theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict. Social problems arise from the fact that our society is divided into haves and have nots. Marxist Theory: Problems and Class conflict How can a society so rich have so many poor people? Believed social problems were a result of a capitalistic society. Marx believed that poor workers would rise up in the future and end this type of oppressive system. Multiculturalism theory explains social problems in terms of racial and ethnic inequality. Color and culture and the process of ranking people in a hierarchy. Minorities remain at the disadvantage today. Dominate the study of social problems- but has limitations. Macro level.

The Feminist Approach

Definition:a political movement that seeks the social equality of women and men. Also called the gender-conflict approach. Gender-conflict theory: social problems in terms of men's dominance over women. Women still don't make as much as men do. They have become more equal but men are still more dominant. Gender relations are viewed as social, not natural, factors

Social movements

Defintion: an organized effort at claims making that tries to shape the way people think about an issue in order to encourage or discourage social change. Key part in the construction of social problems. Four steps: 1. Emergence: Occurs when people come together sharing their concern about the status quo and begin to make claims about the need of change. 2. Coalescence: Occurs as a new organization begins holding rallies and demonstrations, making public its beliefs, and engaging in political lobbying. 3.Formation: become formalized as they become established players on the political scene. Volunteer to a salaried staff. 4. Decline: no guarantee of continuing success because they run out of money, their claims fail to catch up with the public, or because opposing organizations are more convincing than they are.

Problems involve subjective values as well as objective facts. (# 6 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

Depending on a person's belief system and culture, they may believe things to be social problems that other people with different views may not.

Qualitative Research

Descriptive research. Not numerical. Seek to understand how or why. Associated with symbolic interactionism and micro level analysis. Small population. Not things you can tell from numbers.

Problems are socially constructed as people define a condition as harmful and in need of change. (# 3 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

People must come to see that the condition is a serious social problem. Claims making is the process to this.

Sociological Imagination

Idea that people experience social problems in very personal ways. C. Wright Mills used this.Personal troubles are really social issues that affect many people. We assume our individual problems are our own fault, when they can be a result from our economic and political systems.

People see problems differently. (# 4 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

Most issues are a matter of controversy. One person's solution may be another person's problem.

Social problems are not caused by bad people. (# 2 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

The law holds us accountable as individuals for our own actions. Bad people are an issue but depending on the rate of high and low depends not on the individuals but rather can be a result from how a society organizes itself. Depends on who a society hires for law enforcement, how many prisons, good or bad economy, etc etc can explain whether a societies crime rate is high or low.

Quantitative Research

Use of statistical analysis to collect, analyze, and interpret data. Associated with macro level analysis. Big picture data. Large population.

Social problems result from the ways in which a society operates. (# 1 of the 8 Assertions of Social Problems)

We tend to believe that people are solely responsible for their own lives. A sociological perspective shows us that social problems are caused less by personal failings than by the operation of society itself. Correcting social problems requires change to society itself.