Sociology Chapter 1, 2 & 3 Concept Checks

Discuss the main strengths of experiments?

+ have control of experiment conditions + able to isolate specific causes

What is a random sample?

A random sample is chosen so that every member of the population has the same probability of being included, to ensure that a population is represented accurately.

Why is language considered to be a cultural universal?

Cultures don't exist without language; Use language to convey information about events in all of time and space and discuss things we've never seen.

Give examples of subcultures that are typical of American society?

Hip-Hop, College Students, Sports Fans, etc.

Describe the main elements of culture?

How people dress, marriage customs, family life, patterns of work, religious ceremonies, and leisure pursuits.

What does the concept industrialization mean?

The process of the machine production of goods.

What are the similarities and differences between comparative and historical research?

Comparative research compares one set of findings on one society with the same type of findings on other societies, which allows researchers to see if behavior varies across time, place, and social groups in history.

What is the sociological imagination, according to C. Wright Mills?

C. Wright Mills defined the sociological imagination as the ability to see the impact of social forces on individuals' public and private lives. He believed we need to overcome our limited perspective to understand the larger meaning of our experiences.

According to Karl Marx, what are the differences between the two classes that make up a capitalist society?

Capitalist societies have people who own capital (factories, machines, larges sums of money) in a ruling class and a class of wage workers, who do not own the means of their livelihood.

What is the linguistic relativity hypothesis?

Based on the theories of Sapir and Whorf, that perceptions are relative to language; language influences our perceptions of the world.

What are the differences between symbolic interactionism and functionalist approaches to the analysis of society?

Symbolic Interactionism is a microsociological analysis of the use of symbols and face-to-face interaction, with special importance on language. Functionalism is a macro sociological analysis of the relationships between the parts of society and its functions.

Describe three ways that sociology can help us in our lives?

It can give us a sense of awareness of cultural differences, let us assess the effects of policies, and provide self-enlightenment.

How does the concept of social structure help sociologists better understand social phenomena?

Social structure can help sociologists explain social phenomena in three ways. First, social structure gives humans a rational way to act. Second, norms create a social order to explain social phenomena. Third, beliefs and values guide the human to making social decisions.

What are the main advantages and limitations of ethnography as a research method?

+ Explains how studied people understand their own behavior - only small groups can be studied - depends on researcher's skill - different researchers may draw different conclusions

What are the seven steps in the research process?

1. Defining the Research Problem; 2. Reviewing the Literature; 3. Formulating a Hypotheses; 4. Selecting a Research Design; 5. Carrying out the research; 6. Interpreting results; 7. Reporting research findings.

How does global culture influence local structures?

Rapid world wide growth of the internet is hastening the spread of a global culture; unlimited, uncensored information, and instant gratification.

What roles does culture play in society?

Without culture, we'd have no language to express ourselves and no sense of self-consciousness-ability to think and reason would be limited.

Why should sociologists be concerned about the exploitation of the people that they study?

Humans are self-aware beings that have a sense of purpose in what they do—and they're living things.

How are macro and micro analyses of society connected?

Macro-sociology is essential in understanding micro-sociology because macro. affects daily life and micro influences all social organization.

What skills and perspectives do sociologists bring to their work?

Sociologists need to develop a social conscience and set aside personal views to see what shapes our lives.

How does sociology help us to disentangle biological from sociological phenomena?

Sociology aims to help us distinguish between what is biological and what is socially constructed. Sociology wants to show that there are other explanations for human behavior other than simply biology.

According to Emile Durkheim, what makes sociology a social science? Why?

Sociology is a social science if it develops methodological principles to guide research, and use social facts to analyze social life as objects or events in nature.

What is the difference between cultural ethnocentrism and cultural relativism?

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at other cultures throughout the eyes of one's own culture, misrepresenting them; believing that your country is the best, correct way to do things. Cultural relativism is judging other societies by the standards of one's own.

Compare the three main types of premodern societies?

Hunting and Gathering Societies: societies whose mode of subsistence is gained from hunting animals, fishing, and gathering edible plants. Pastoral societies: societies whose subsistence derives from the rearing of domestic animals. Agrarian societies: Societies whose means of subsistence are based on agricultural production (crop growing)

How is the internet transforming local cultures?

Local cultures remain strong, but new nationalisms, cultural identities, and religious practices are constantly being forged throughout the world.

How did Park and Ogburn approach sociological research differently?

Park was interested in developing theories, relating directly to lives of people through evidence of their lives (ethics, religion, journalism, and propaganda). Ogburn said sociology needs to become a science; need to "discover new knowledge"

Explain the nature/nurture debate?

Psychologists emphasize the biological factors, sociologists strew the role of learning and culture. Human begins can make conscious choices, neither biology nor culture wholly determines human behavior.

How do rational choice theorists explain human behavior?

Rational choice theorists explain things that seem irrational. They believe that nearly all behavior (with the exception of love) is a rational response to a social situation.

Contrast the two types of questions commonly used in surveys?

Standardized or fixed choice questions are easy to count and compare, yet difficult to compare statistically. Open ended questions provide more detailed information, but difficult to compare statistically.

How are the ethical dilemmas that social scientists face different from those that other researchers encounter in the physical or biological sciences?

The question of exploitation arises more in field studies than in statistical studies. Are social scientists benefitting at their subjects' expense?

What role does theory play in sociological research?

Theories, especially a diversity of theories, provides a rich source of ideas for research and stimulates imaginative capacity to progress sociological work.

What transformations led to the development of civilizations?

These societies, based on settled agriculture and developed cities, led to inequalities in wealth and power, ruled by kings and emperors (called civilizations).

In what ways did each sociologist influence researchers today?

They both wanted sociology to look like a natural science in presentation and orientation. Believed you can study anything measured in numbers.

How has industrialization weakened traditional social systems?

Transportation and communication became much more rapid, promoting a more integrated "national" community.