Sociology Test One
ideal type
a description comprised of the essential characteristics of some aspect of society
theories
a general term for all the sociological viewpoints
function
a positive consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of the social system
conflict perspective
a sociological viewpoint that focuses on the forces in society that promote competition and change
Verstehan
an empathetic understanding of the meanings others attach to their actions
theory
an explanation of the relationship among particular phenomena
case study
an intensive analysis of a person, group, event, or problem
scientific method
an objective, logical, and systematic way of collecting empirical data and arriving at reasoned conclusions
economics
analyzing the choices people make in an effort to satisfy their needs and wants
symbol
anything that represents something else
experiment
data is gathered under controlled conditions set by the researcher
empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
political science
examination of the principles organization and operation or government
correlation
exists when a change in one varible is regularly associated with a change in another varible
feminist perspective
focuses on gender inequality
interactionist perspective
focuses on how individuals interact with one another society
symbolic interaction
has three essential elements; meaning, language, and thought
social interaction
how people relate to one another and influence each other's behavior
social phenomena
observable facts or events that involve human society
social Darwinism
perspective that holds that societies evolve toward stability and perfection; "survival of the fittest"
hypothesis
sociologists call a statement that predicts the relationship between two or more variables
psychology
studies behavior and mental processes
sociology
studies human society and social behavior
history
studies the people and events of the past
sociological imagination
the ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life
anthropology
the comparative study of past and present cultures
globalization
the development of economic, political, and social relationships that strech worldwide
manifest function
the intended consequence of something
dysfunction
the negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system
social psychology
the study of how the social enviroment affects an individual's behavior and personality
macrosociology
the study of large-scale systems or society as a whole
microsociology
the study of small-group settings
latent function
the unintended consequence of something
sociological perspective
the worldview that involves looking at social life in a scientific, systematic way
functionalist perspective
views society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system
ethics
"rules" sociologists use when conducting research. They follow ethical standards to foster professional integrity and ensure the welfare of the ppl they work with