Sociology Exam 1: Modules 1 & 2
Metaphysical Stage
people saw society as a natural rather than a supernatural system
Theological Stage
people took the religious view that society expressed God's will
Society
people who live in a defined territory and share a culture
Survey
research method in which information is obtained by asking many individuals a fixed set of questions
Manifest Functions
the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern
Independent Variable
variable that is manipulated
Symbolic-Interaction Approach
a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals
Concept
a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form
Dramaturgical Analysis
a technique sociologists use in which they view society through the metaphor of theatrical performance
Social Functions
the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole
Structural-Functional Approach
a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability; one of the theoretical approaches
Social-Conflict Approach
a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change
Theoretical Approach
a basic image of society that guides thinking and research
Macro-Level Orientation
a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole
Micro-Level Orientation
a close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations
Variable
a concept whose value changes from case to case
Measurement
a procedure for determining the value of a variable in a specific case
Experiment
a research method for investigating cause and effect under highly controlled conditions
Participant Observation
a research method in which investigators systematically observe people while joining them in their routine activities
Positivism
a scientific approach to knowledge based on "positive" facts as opposed to mere speculation
Stereotype
a simplified description applied to every person in some category
Hypothesis
a statement of a possible relationship between two or more variables
Theory
a statement of how and why specific facts are related
Research Method
a systematic plan for doing research
Dependent Variable
a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value depends on that of another.
Spurious Correlation
an apparent but false relationship between two (or more) variables that is caused by some other variable
Social Structure
any relatively stable pattern of social behavior
Social Dysfunction
any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society
Androcentricity
approaching an issue from a male perspective
Auguste Comte
coined the term sociology; divided it into three historical stages - theological, metaphysical, and scientific
Scientific Stage
develop a social physics to understand human behavior
Empirical Evidence
information we can verify with our senses
Sociological Perspective
looking for general patterns in the behavior of particular people
Low-Income Countries
nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor
Middle-Income Countries
nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a whole
Outsider
not being a part of the dominant category
Gynocentricity
seeing the world from a female perspective
Operationalizing Variables
specifying exactly what is to be measured before assigning a value to a variable
Feminism
support of social equality for women and men
Social Exchange Analysis
the idea that interaction is guided by what each person stands to gain and lose from others
High-Income Countries
the nations with the highest overall standards of living
Gender
the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male
Positivist Sociology
the study of society based on scientific observation of social behavior; also called empirical sociology
Race-Conflict Theory
the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories
Gender-Conflict Theory
the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men
Interpretive Sociology
the study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world
Critical Sociology
the study of society that focuses on the need for social change
Global Perspective
the study of the larger world and our society's place in it
Sociology
the systematic study of human society
Latent Functions
the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern