chapter 1: a sociology of the family

census

a periodic count of people in a population and their characteristics, usually performed as an official government function

consensus perspective

a perspective that projects an image of society as the collective expression of shared norms and values

sample survey

a research method in which identical questions are asked of many different people and their answers gathered into one large data file

longitudinal surveys

a research method in which the same people are interviewed repeatedly over a period of time

institutional arena

a social space in which relations between people in common positions are governed by accepted rules of interaction

symbolic interactionism

a theory concerned with the ability of humans to see themselves through the eyes of others and to enact social roles based on others' expectations

modernity theory

a theory of the historical emergence of the individual as an actor in society and how individuality changed personal and institutional relations

feminist theory

a theory that seeks to understand and ultimately reduce inequality between men and women

breadwinner-homemaker family

an employed father, a nonemployed mother, and their children

families

groups of related people, bound by connections that are biological, legal, or emotional

why is exchange theory part of the consensus tradition of perspectives?

it assumes that patterns of social behavior are mutually agreed on

conflict perspective

the view that opposition and conflict define a given society and are necessary for social evolution

what strategies do sociologists use to avoid bias in their research?

using publicly funded studies, making their data freely available and repeatable, and a peer review system

household

a group of people that lives and eats separately from other groups

cohort

a group of people who experience an event together at the same point in time

market arena

the institutional arena where labor for pay, economic exchange, and wealth accumulation take place

family arena

the institutional arena where people practice intimacy, childbearing, and socialization, and caring work

state arena

the institutional arena where, through political means, behavior is legally regulated, violence is controlled, and resources are redistributed

personal family

the people to whom we feel related and who we expect to define us as members of their family as well

socialization

the process by which individuals internalize elements of the social structure in their own personalities

genealogy

the study of ancestry and family history

demographic perspective

the study of how family behavior and household structures contribute to larger population processes

life course perspective

the study of the family trajectories of individuals and groups as they progress through their lives, in social and historical context

bias

the tendency to impose previously held views on the collection and interpretation of facts

exchange theory

the theory that individuals or groups with different resources, strengths, and weaknesses enter into mutual relationships to maximize their own gains

legal family

a group of individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption

advantages of surveys

can be used to predict behaviors, provide much of the basic knowledge we need to understand trends and patterns

advantages of time use studies

can develop a more detailed accounting of what goes on within families

advantages of in-depth interviews

can uncover deeper insights about underlying motives than focus groups

big data

data collections large enough to require special computing resources, and complex enough to require customized computer applications

how has the census' definition of a family change over time?

started with the head of household and anonymous count of other people present -> a group a people that share a common dining table -> living together in one household

how are structural functionalist and conflict theoretical perspectives different?

structural functionalism starts from the premise that consensus and harmony form the basis of society, whereas the conflict perspective believes conflict and opposition define a given society and are necessary for social evolution

time use studies

surveys that collect data on how people spend their time during a sample period, such as a single day or week

family wage

the amount necessary for a male earner to provide subsistence for his wife and children without them having to work for pay

what distinguishes first modernity from second modernity?

the concept of a normal family remained intact as a social standard vs. diversity and individuality being the new norm