Sociology Exam 1

Anomie

"Normlessness"; term used to describe the alienation and loss of purpose that result from weaker social bonds and an increased pace of change According to Durkheim in his now-classic study Suicide (1897), even the darkest depression has its roots in an individual's connections to the social world, or rather his lack of connection. Durkheim theorized that suicide is one result of anomie, a sense of disconnection brought about by the changing conditions of modern life. The more firmly anchored a person is to family, religion, and the workplace, the less anomie he is likely to experience.

Verstehen

"Empathetic understanding"; Weber's term to describe good social research, which tries to understand the meanings that individuals attach to various aspects of social reality

Mass Media

76% of households have a computer 72% of households connected to internet 97% of households have a personal computer People spend more than half of free time watching TV Children spend about 7 ½ hours with the screen Violence, sexuality, and TV ratings (MPAA ratings)

Status

A position in a social hierarchy that carries a particular set of expectations

Rapport

A positive relationship often characterized by mutual trust or sympathy

Causation

A relationship between variables in which a change in one directly produces a change in the other

Paradigm

A set of assumptions, theories, and perspectives that makes up a way of understanding social reality

Embodied status

A status generated by physical characteristics Ex.: beauty; disability

Theories

Abstract propositions that explain the social world and make predictions about the future

Status set

All the statuses a person holds at the same time

Dramaturgy

An approach pioneered by Erving Goffman in which social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance

Empirical

Based on scientific experimentation or observation Methods used to study "social reality"

Which theorist would have supported the idea that gender is a construct and this is not inherent?

Charlotte Perkins Gillman

Subcultures

Cultural patterns that set apart some segment of society; different norms, roles, add statuses Deviant subcultures- gangs, bikers, convicts, etc But not all subcultures are deviant Are college life/ students can be considered a subculture?

Symbols

Element of culture; anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture

Pablo Escobar decides to quit his day job and study the interactions of lonely men in his community. What sociologist does he share a commonality with?

Emile Durkheim

Role strain

Experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role Tension among roles connected to a single status

Role conflict

Experienced when we occupy two or more roles with contradictory expectations

An intervening variable...

Explains the relationship between two other variables

Objectivity

Impartiality; the ability to allow the facts to speak for themselves

What variable is hypothesized to cause or influence another?

Independent

Technology

Material artifacts and the knowledge and techniques required to use them One of the most significant influences on any society is its material culture. And most changes in material culture tend to be technological. Ex.: hammer; space shuttle

Robert K. Merton (1910-2003)

Modern American functionalist Identified manifest and latent functions

What activity falls under sociology?

Observing the patterns of all diners in a restaurant

Social-Conflict Approach

Sees society as an arena of inequality that generates inequality and change

Queer Theory

Social theory about gender and sexual identity; emphasizes the importance of difference and rejects ideas of innate identities or restrictive categories

Signs

Symbols that stand for or convey an idea

Confidentiality

The assurance that no one other than the researcher will know the identity of a respondent

Access

The process by which an ethnographer gains entry to a field setting

What is "arming data"?

Trying to make data say something it is not

Variables

Two or more phenomena that a researcher believes are related; these will be examined in the experiment

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

A German social philosopher, cultural commentator, and political activist, was the inspiration for conflict theory, so the terms "conflict theory" and "Marxism" are sometimes used interchangeably in the social sciences. Marx's theory continues to provide a powerful tool for understanding social phenomena. The idea that conflict between social groups is central to the workings of society and serves as the engine of social change is one of the most vital perspectives in sociology today. Marx believed that most of those problems were a result of capitalism, the emerging economic system based on the private for-profit operation of industry. He proposed a radical alternative to the inherent inequalities of this system in the Manifesto of the Communist Party (1848), perhaps his most famous book. Das Kapital: the multivolume work provided a thorough exposition of his program for social change, which later became the foundation of political systems such as communism and socialism. Figurehead at conflict theory, pioneer in class struggle Applicable theories apply to more than class Not Communism like we think

Operational Definiton

A clear and precise definition of a variable that facilitates its measurement

Critical Theory

A contemporary form of conflict theory that criticizes many different systems and ideologies of domination and oppression

False consciousness

A denial of the truth on the part of the oppressed when they fail to recognize that the interests of the ruling class are embedded in the dominant ideology Most people readily accept the prevailing ideology, despite its failure to represent the reality of their lives. Marx referred to this acceptance as false consciousness, a denial of the truth that allows for the perpetuation of the inequalities inherent in the class structure.

Dysfunction

A disturbance to or undesirable consequence of some aspect of the social system Any disorganization or dysfunction in a structure leads to change and a new equilibrium; if one structure is transformed, the others must also adjust. For example, if families fail to discipline children, then schools, churches, and the courts must pick up the slack.

Autoethnography

A form of participant observation where the feelings and actions of the researcher become a focal point of the ethnographic study

Society

A group of people who shape their lives in aggregated and patterned ways that distinguish their group from others Grouping of people, often grouped by territory or region, that share commonality and/or organized community It's harder to define society today by region/territory

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A group of scholars within a university who meet regularly to review and approve the research proposals of their colleagues and make recommendations for how to protect human subjects

Paradigm shift

A major change in basic assumptions of a particular scientific discipline

Participant observation

A methodology associated with ethnography whereby the researcher both observes and becomes a member in a social settling Method in which investigators systematically observe people while joining them in routine activities Overt or Covert Also called fieldwork and ethnography Less structured, but may have larger consequences Learn great deal about population being studied

Ethnography

A naturalistic method based on studying people in their own environment in order to understand the meanings they attribute to their activities; also the written work that results from the study Most commonly used research method in the social sciences

Role set

A number of roles attached to a single status

Structural Functionalism

A paradigm based on the assumption that society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures functionalist theory, was the dominant theoretical perspective within sociology well into the mid-twentieth century. Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) is the central figure in functionalist theory. Most likely to ask: What are the major parts of society? How are these parts linked? What does each part do to help society work?

Symbolic Interactionism

A paradigm that sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that meanings are not inherent but are created through interaction

Conflict Theory

A paradigm that sees social conflict as the basis of society and social change and that emphasizes a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo, and a dynamic model of historical change Conflict theory is the second major school of thought in sociology. Like structural functionalism, it's a macro-level approach to understanding social life that dates to mid-nineteenth century Europe. As conflict theory developed, however, its emphasis on social inequality as the basic characteristic of society helped answer some of the critiques of structural functionalism. Conflict theory proposes that conflict and tension are basic facts of social life and suggests that people have disagreements over goals and values and are involved in struggles over both resources and power. The theory thus focuses on the processes of dominance, competition, upheaval, and social change. Conflict theory takes a materialist view of society (focused on labor practices and economic reality) and extends it to other social inequalities. Conflict theory takes a critical stance toward existing social arrangements and attempts to expose their inner workings. Conflict theory sees the transformation of society over time as inevitable. Would focus on the ways inequality shapes all aspects of social life Most likely to ask: How is power dispersed? Who benefits from power? Does one group exploit another?

Scientific Method

A procedure for acquiring knowledge that emphasizes collecting concrete data through observation and experimentation Provides researchers with a series of basic steps to follow

Sociological Imagination

A quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our individual circumstances and larger social forces One of the classic statements about the sociological perspective comes from C. Wright Mills (1916-1962), who describes a quality of mind that all great social analysts seem to possess: the sociological imagination. By this, he means the ability to understand "the intersection between biography and history," or the interplay of self and the world; this is sociology's task and its "promise" (Mills 1959). The sociological imagination searches for the link between micro and macro levels of analysis. Discover new information Discover new relationships between factors Challenge beliefs/ideas Learn Use information to benefit people

Correlation

A relationship between variables in which they change together and may or may not be casual

Culture shock

A sense of disorientation that occurs when entering a radically new social or culture environment Another way to gain a sociological perspective is to attempt to create in ourselves a sense of culture shock. Anthropologists use the term to describe the experience of visiting an "exotic" foreign culture. The first encounters with the local natives and their way of life can seem so strange to us that they produce a kind of disorientation and doubt about our ability to make sense of things. Putting all judgment aside for the moment, this state of mind can be very useful. For it is at this point, when we so completely lack an understanding of our surroundings, that we are truly able to perceive what is right in front of our eyes. Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life Can be experienced and inflicted Inflict- do something against our norms There is no "natural" way to do things Instincts- biological programming over which the species has little control Only humans rely on culture rather than instinct to create and ensure life

Structure

A social institution that is relatively stable over time and that meets the needs of society by performing functions necessary to maintain social order and stability There are two main principles of functionalism. First, society is conceived as a stable, ordered system made up of interrelated parts, or structures. Second, each structure has a function that contributes to the continued stability or equilibrium of the unified whole. Structures are identified as social institutions such as the family, the educational system, politics, the economy, and religion. They meet society's needs by performing different functions, and every function is necessary to maintain social order and stability.

Conversation analysis

A sociological approach that looks at how we create meaning in naturally occurring conversation, often by taping conversations and examining their transcripts

Hawthorne Effect

A specific example of reactivity, in which the desired effect is the result not of the independent variable but of the research itself

Achieved status

A status earned through individual effort or imposed by others Ex.: occupation; hobby; skill

Master status

A status that is always relevant and affects all other statuses we possess Most important

Ascribed status

A status that is inborn; usually difficult or impossible to change Ex.: gender; race

Ideology

A system of beliefs, attitudes, and values that directs a society and reproduces the status quo of the bourgeoisie

Feminist Theory

A theoretical approach that looks at gender inequities in society and the way that gender structures the social world

Hypothesis

A theoretical statement explaining the relationship between two or more phenomena

Intervening variable

A third variable, sometimes overlooked, that explains the relationship between two other variables

Literature review

A thorough search through previously published studies relevant to a particular topic

Sociological perspective

A way of looking at the world through a sociological lens Seeing the general in the particular Examining the world without assumptions or preconceived notions Taking a sociological approach using sociological information

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

After witnessing the ravages of the FrancoPrussian War (1870-1871), he hoped that applied science could stabilize and revitalize France in the aftermath of its devastating defeat. He did not believe that traditional, abstract moral philosophy was effective in increasing understanding and bringing about social change, so he turned instead to the concrete science of sociology as represented in Comte's work. In his first major study, The Division of Labor in Society (1893), Durkheim stated that social bonds were present in all types of societies but that different types of societies created different types of bonds. : Mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity Believed that most individualistic actions have sociological explanations. He theorized suicide is a result of anomie. He suggested that religion was a powerful source of social solidarity, or unity, because it reinforced collective bonds and shared moral values. He not only made significant contributions to the existing literature but also demonstrated the effectiveness of using scientific, empirical methods to study "social reality," essentially validating Comte's proposal from half a century earlier.. Sociologist who did the famous "Suicide Study" Social bonds of society and applying scientific methods

Value-Free Sociology

An ideal whereby researchers identify facts without allowing their own personal beliefs or biases to interfere

Collective effervescence

An intense energy in shared events where people feel swept up in something larger than themselves feel as if they had entered a "special world inhabited by exceptionally intense forces that invade and transform" - Durkheim

In which step of the Scientific Method do you need to put your Sociological Imagination to play?

Analyze data

Social Dysfunction

Any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society

Means of production

Anything that can create wealth: money, property, factories, and other types of businesses, and the infrastructure necessary to run them In industrial society, the forces of capitalism were creating distinct social and economic classes, exacerbating the disparities between the wealthy and the poor. Marx felt that this would inevitably lead to class struggle between those who owned the means of production (anything that could create more wealth: money, property, factories, other types of businesses) and those who worked for them.

Conflict Theory

Approach to Culture: Values and norms are part of the dominant culture and tend to represent and protect the interests of the most powerful groups in society. Case Study- Religion: Religion serves to control the masses by creating rules for behavior; sanctions against violators may not be equally or fairly applied. Culture wars reflect tensions among groups over which values and norms will dominate.

Symbolic Interactionism

Approach to Culture: Values and norms are social constructions that may vary over time and in different contexts; meaning is created, maintained, and changed through ongoing social interaction. Case Study- Religion: Religion consists of beliefs and rituals that are part of the interaction among followers. Reciting the Lord's Prayer, bowing toward Mecca, and keeping a kosher home are meaningful displays of different religious values and norms. Leaders may play a role in creating social change.

Structural Functionalism

Approach to Culture: Values and norms are widely shared and agreed upon; they contribute to social stability by reinforcing common bonds and constraining individual behavior. Case Study- Religion: Religion is an important social institution that functions as the basis for the morals and ethics that followers embrace and that are applied to both society and the individual, thus promoting social order.

Beginner's mind

Approaching the world without preconceptions in order to see things in a new way Beginner's mind—the opposite of expert's mind, which is so filled with facts, projections, assumptions, opinions, and explanations that it can't learn anything new. If we would like to better understand the world around us, we must unlearn what we already know. Beginner's mind approaches the world without knowing in advance what it will find; it is open and receptive to experience.

Socialization and Life Course

Childhood: Don't bite, share with others, basic chores, ...etc. Adolescence: Negotiating friendships, time management, schooling, job and interview skills Adulthood- delayed adulthood or extended adolescence: Job and interview skills, workplace dynamics, buying a home or leasing an apartment, relationship/marriage dynamics Old age: Interactions with doctors, healthcare management, physical caution, lifestyle changes, new industry interaction

Cultural intergration

Close relationship

High culture

Cultural patterns that distinguish a society's elite Ex.: not wearing white after Labor Day

Popular culture

Cultural patterns that widespread among a society's population Ex.: Netflix; memes Thing that's popular amongst large groups of people

Values and beliefs

Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful Broad guidelines for social living Abstract Equal rights for the sexes Independence Environmental protection Faithfulness Example: beauty Beliefs- specific thoughts or ideas that people hold to be true Particular Men and women should be paid equally People responsible for their loss in life Water bottles are killing the planet Spouses should not cheat Values: Shared beliefs that a group of people consider to be worthwhile or desirable; they articulate everything that a cultural group cherishes and honors.

Issues in sociological research

Data manipulation- purposefully showing misleading data Leaving data out to suit your research Biased data- who is doing the research Arming data Assuming correlation means causation Not enough data to confirm result Too small of sample size; sample not representative Simple human error

Primary data

Data researchers collect themselves Can be qualitative or quantitative Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews, Observations, Experiments

Field notes

Detailed notes taken by an ethnographer describing her activities and interactions, which later become the basis of the analysis

Roots of sociology as a science

Early sociology is heavily influenced by non-sociologists Heavily influenced by European thinkers- really Eurocentric thinking that overlooked Eastern thinkers Beginning= nature of society Confucius, Aristotle, Shakespeare

Language

Element of culture; system of symbols and or sounds that allow people to communicate with one another Key to cultural transmission Process by which one generation passes culture to the next A system of communication using vocal sounds, gestures, or written symbols; the primary means through which we communicate with each other and perpetuate our culture.

Mass media

Entertains, informs, educates, and is responsible for the internalization of many values, beliefs, and norms of society.

Code of Ethics

Ethical guidelines for researchers to consult as they design a project

Studying groups that are often overlooked by other methods is an advantage of what sociological research method?

Ethnography

Eurocentrism

Favoring European histories and cultural patterns

Race-Conflict Theory

Focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories Social-Conflict Approach

Interviews

Gathering data orally from subjects/participants Structured/Unstructured/Semi-Structured Useful when asking difficult questions or questions with layered responses Useful for getting detailed information or data that may be confusing Participants may feel uncomfortable face to face Some difficulty in finding participants Advantages: Allow respondents to speak in their own words Dispel certain preconceptions Discover issues that might have otherwise been overlooked. Disadvantages: Lack of representatives

Ida B. Wells (1862-1931)

Grew up during a tumultuous time Wrote about lived experiences of African Americans (lynching) Prolific social activist Launched an anti-lynch campaign with British reformers Wrote literature on lynching in the South Had a newspaper that was burned to the ground

Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964)

Grew up during tumultuous time One of the 1st pieces of black feminism (voice from the South) Focused on progress of black women in country Strong advocate of equal education- believed this was the key to equality

Jason, who is health guru, is trying to lose 3 pounds by next month. But yesterday he surpassed his caloric intake because his friend offered him a free lunch. Jason is frustrated with himself for not having any self-control and is now experiencing _____.

Guilt

Gender-Conflict Theory

Harriet Martineau Between men and women Linked closely with feminism

Non-material culture or Symbolic culture

Ideas or values created by society Nonmaterial or symbolic culture reflects the ideas and beliefs of a group of people. It can be something as specific as a certain rule or custom, such as driving on the right side of the road in the United States and on the left side in the United Kingdom. It can also be a broad social system, such as democracy, or a large-scale social pattern, such as marriage. Because symbolic culture is so important to social life, let's look further at some of its main components. The ideas associated with a cultural group, including ways of thinking (beliefs, values, and assumptions) and ways of behaving (norms, interactions, and communication)

What is an example of sociological imagination?

If someone drinks tea at the exact same time every day, it might be because of tradition

"The Body Ritual of the Nacirema" is an attempt to:

Impartially view the culture of Americans

As agents of socialization, what is one characteristic we learn from both our family AND our school?

Interaction with others

What is not an advantage of using interviews to gather data?

Interviews help produce true responses from the participants

In Emile Durkheim's Suicide Study, his overarching conclusion was that suicides were caused by....

Isolated lifestyles

Dialectical model

Karl Marx's model of historical change, whereby two extreme positions come into conflict and create some new outcome the resulting "middle ground" would mean that society had actually moved forward

What element of culture plays the role of the 'cultural lens', helping people utilize and understand the world?

Language

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935)

Leading radical feminist thinker Wrote about women's desires Critical thinker of gender as construct Saw heterosexual relationships as a mode of domination (she was a lesbian)

In Jack's sociology class, they were discussing topics based on race, class, and gender. What level of analysis is this based on in sociology?

Macro

"The Canon"

Macro-sociologists/ structural functionalists Auguste Comte Emile Durkheim Max Weber 2 additions: Karl Marx; W.E.B DuBois

Hannah decides she wants to study cultures and what the main categories of social significance are. What would she most likely NOT add to that list?

Manners

Surveys

Method in which subjects answer a series of statements or questions on a questionnaire or interview; Likert scales frequently used Usually targets a population, or specific group Sample: much smaller number of subjects selected to represent entire population Best if random sampling, so results are representative Advantages: Gather original data on a population that is too large to study by other means Relatively quick and economical and can provide a vast amount of data Comparatively strong on reliability Less concern about research bias Disadvantages: Lacks qualitative data that might better capture the social reality Not all respondents are honest in self-reports Problems with the sampling process can make generalizability difficult

Existing Sources

Method used in which researcher uses data already gathered by others (people or agencies) in a different/new way Cheap and time-saving, few ethical concerns Data can be difficult to access or manipulate - or be incomplete Data previously gathered by other researchers or agencies Advantages: Work with information researchers could not possibly obtain for themselves Disadvantages: Answers to questions that the original authors did not have in mind are not available Does not illuminate how original sources were interpreted

Ethnography

Much more in-depth participant-observation Much richer data; includes data, document analysis, etc Includes 'thick' description and provides best understanding of group you are studying Case studies or longitudinal studies Can be expensive to immerse one's self or difficult to delay other obligations Many ethical concerns Some difficulty in applying findings to other research Advantages: Study groups that are often overlooked by other methods Challenge our taken-for-granted notions about groups we thought we knew Reshape the stereotypes we hold about others Disadvantages: Lack of replicability Lack of representativeness Respondents are not always forthcoming or truthful

Bourgeoisie

Owners; the class of modern capitalists who own the means of production and employ wage laborers

When doing our first assignment, what practice did we use to gather field notes?

Participant Observation

Stanford Prison Experiment

Philip Zimbardo's study of the effect of roles on behavior. Participants were randomly assigned to play either prisoners or guards in a mock prison. The study was ended early because of the "guards'" role-induced cruelty. 1971 Widely criticized for methods, tactics, and breach of ethics

Material culture

Physical things created by members of society The objects associated with a cultural group, such as tools, machines, utensils, buildings, and artwork; any physical object to which we give social meaning Any physical object to which we give social meaning.

Sanctions

Positive or negative reactions to the ways people follow or disobey norms

Social Interaction

Process by which people act and react in relation to others

Role exit

Process from which people disengage from important social roles

Marianne Weber (1870-1954)

Prolific writer on women's role in society and marriage Edited husband's work Significant presence in social society as Max Weber's wife Adopted her husband's lover's four children Wrote on women's role in society and marriage___________

Experiments

Research method for investigating cause and effect under highly controlled conditions Hypothesis: statement of a possible relationship between variables Laboratory experiment or field experiment Can be very expensive and must control for many factors Advantages: Manipulate and control the social environment researchers to minimize outside interference High replicability Disadvantages: Applicable only to certain types of research that can be constructed and measured in a controlled setting Not very effective for describing more complex processes and interactions

Quantitative research

Research that translates the social world into numbers that can be treated mathematically; this type of research often tries to find cause-and-effect relationships Quantitative methodologies distill large amounts of information into numbers that are more easily communicated to others, often in the form of rates and percentages or charts and graphs. Focuses heavily on numerical facts and statistics Data collected through measurement of variables, thoroughly described Data usually analyzed and shown in numerical comparisons and statistics/charts; analyzed with statistical software Data usually has a p-value, or a level of significance

Qualitative research

Research that works with nonnumerical data such as texts, field notes, interview transcripts, photographs, and tape recordings; this type of research more often tries to understand how people make sense of their world Research that focuses on providing great amount of detail Focuses on interpretation and behavior Data collected through observation, surveys, other methods Data usually analyzed and shown as themes, codes, descriptions Some qualitative data can be shown as a simple statistic - "3 of 4 participants" or "75% of participants"

Norms

Rules and expectations by which guides society's behavior of members Mores- norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance Folkways- norms for routine or casual interaction Social control Attempts by society to regulate thoughts and behavior Shame- painful sense that others disapprove of our actions Guilt- negative judgement we make ourselves Rules or guidelines regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate.

Bureaucracies

Secondary groups designed to perform tasks efficiently, characterized by specialization, technical, competence, hierarchy, written rules, impersonality, and formal written communication

Structural-Functional Approach

Sees society as complex system

Symbolic-Interaction Approach

Sees society as product of everyday interactions of individuals micro-level orientation: focuses on interactions in specific situations; small, narrow viewpoint (like a selfie) Suggests society is constructed as people interact with one another Most likely to ask: How do people negotiate group dynamics? How is meaning created through interaction?

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406)

Social cohesion (Sabiyah) and "the science of civilization" First used the term "science of civilization" to describe society

Heavy rains in Houston have caused flooding that have left people trapped in stores, homes, and schools. These floods can result in which of the following?

Social dysfunction

Agents of socialization

Social groups, institutions, and individuals (especially the family, schools, peers, and the mass media) that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place

Feminism is linked closely to this because the particular approach is focused mainly on the equality conflict between men and women. This is best known as:

Social-conflict theory

"Body Ritual of the Nacirema"

Some of the popular aspects of Nacirema culture include: medicine men and women (doctors, psychiatrists, and pharmacists), a charm-box (medicine cabinet), the mouth-rite ritual (brushing teeth), and a cultural hero known as Notgnihsaw (Washington spelled backwards).

Everyday Actor

Someone who approaches the world by using knowledge that is practical or taken for granted The everyday actor approaches his social world with what is referred to as "reciped," or practical, knowledge which allows him to get along in his everyday life.

Social Analyst

Someone who approaches the world by using reasoning and questions to gain deeper insights The social analyst has to "place in question everything that seems unquestionable" to the everyday actor.

Research Ethics

Subjects must not be harmed or suffer any long-term damage Subjects must be allowed to quit or opt-out at any point Researchers must respect privacy/confidentiality Researchers must get informed consent of participants Researchers cannot lie/manipulate subjects Researchers cannot manipulate/falsify/"smudge" data

Spurious correlation

The appearance of causation produced by an intervening variable

Rationalization

The application of economic logic to human activity; the use of formal rules and regulations in order to maximize efficiency without consideration of subjective or individual concerns

Social Darwinism

The application of the theory of evolution and the notion of "survival of the fittest" to the study of society

Praxis

The application of theory to practical action in an effort to improve aspects of society

Solidarity

The degree of integration or unity within a particular society; the extent to which individuals feel connected to other members of their group In his final major study, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Durkheim suggested that religion was a powerful source of social solidarity, or unity, because it reinforced collective bonds and shared moral values. He believed that society could be understood by examining the most basic forms of religion. RELIGION ASPECT NOT ON EXAM

Social sciences

The disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world

Cultural diffusion

The dissemination of material and symbolic culture (tools and technology, beliefs and behavior from one group to another) Cultural change can also occur when different groups share their material and nonmaterial culture with each other, a process called cultural diffusion.

Thesis

The existing social arrangements in a dialectical model

Deception

The extent to which the participants in a research project are unaware of the project or its goals

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

The first to provide a program for the scientific study of society, or a "social physics." French scientist, developed a theory of the progress of human thinking from its early theological and metaphysical stages toward a final "positive" or scientific stage. Comte felt that society needed positivist guidance toward both social progress and social order. His ideas, featured in Introduction to Positive Philosophy (1842), became the foundation of a scientific discipline that would describe the laws of social phenomena and help control social life; he called it "sociology." Positivism- social world has "laws" like natural world (e.g gravity)

Sacred

The holy, divine, or supernatural Any form of religion is unified by this definition

Cultural imperialism

The imposition of one culture's beliefs and practices on another culture through media and consumer products rather than by military force

Latent functions

The less obvious, perhaps unintended functions of a social structure The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern

Microsociology

The level of analysis that studies face-to-face and small-group interactions in order to understand how they affect the larger patterns and structures of society

Macrosociology

The level of analysis that studies large-scale social structures in order to determine how they affect the lives of groups and individuals

Synthesis

The new social system created out of the conflict between thesis and antithesis in a dialectical model

Manifest functions

The obvious, intended functions of a social structure for the social system Recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern

Antithesis

The opposition to the existing arrangements in a dialectical model

Profane

The ordinary, mundane, or everyday Any form of religion is unified by this definition

Thick description

The presentation of detailed data on interactions and meaning within a cultural context, from the perspective of its members

Cultural relativism

The principle of understanding other cultures on their own terms, rather than judging or evaluating according to one's own culture Cultural relativism becomes all the more important in our increasingly diverse society.

Ethnocentrism

The principle of using one's own culture as a means or standard by which to evaluate another group or individual, leading to the view that cultures other than one's own are abnormal or inferior We think of our own culture as the "normal" one In some cases, ethnocentrism can be a source of prejudice and hostility.

Cultural leveling

The process by which cultures that were once unique and distinct become increasingly similar If you travel, you may have already seen this phenomenon in towns across the United States and countries around the world. The Walmarts on the interstates, for instance, have driven independent mom-and-pop stores from Main Streets all over the country.

Socialization

The process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group, by which we become functioning members of society

Disenchantment

The razionalization of modern society

Class consciousness

The recognition of social inequality on the part of the oppressed, leading to revolutionary action This can happen only when people recognize how society works and challenge those in power. He believed that social change would occur when there was enough tension and conflict.

Applied research

The search for knowledge that can be used to create social change

Basic research

The search for knowledge without an agenda or practical goal in mind

Alienation

The sense of dissatisfaction the modern worker feels as a result of producing goods that are owned and controlled by someone else

Role

The set of behaviors expected of someone because of his or her status Ex.: attend class; study

Collective Conscience

The shared morals and beliefs that are common to a group and that foster social solidarity A distinction between the sacred and the profane, and the creation of and participation in shared ritual activity, creates this The shared beliefs and values that make up the collective conscience of the group are what make social solidarity possible, but they must be frequently renewed through the ritual, by which a group "revitalizes the sense it has of itself and its unity" (p. 379). Durkheim believed that this process happens in all societies, whether united through a common religious tradition or through shared secular beliefs and practices.

Ethnomethodology

The study of "folk methods" and background knowledge that sustain a shared sense of reality in everyday interactions

Critical Race Theory

The study of the relationship among race, racism, and power

Sociology

The systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions the study of people "doing things together."

Reactivity

The tendency of people and events to react to the process of being studied

Positivism

The theory that sense perceptions are the only valid source of knowledge

Organic Solidarity

The type of social bonds present in modern societies, based on difference, interdependence, and individual rights Durkheim believed: In industrial societies, where factory work was becoming increasingly specialized, organic solidarity prevailed: People's bonds were based on the tasks they performed, interdependence, and individual rights.

Mechanical Solidarity

The type of social bonds present in premodern, agrarian societies, in which shard traditions and beliefs created a sense of social cohesion Durkheim suggested that the mechanical solidarity experienced by people in a simple agricultural society bound them together on the basis of shared traditions, beliefs, and experiences.

Culture

The ways of thinking, ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people's way of life; shared way of life the entire way of life of a group of people (including both material and symbolic elements) that acts as a lens through which one views the world and that is passed from one generation to the next

Which of the following is true about a subculture?

They differ only slightly from society, but follow the general societal rules.

Secondary data

Using data gathered previously by others Can be qualitative or quantitative From Government statistics to diaries to visual content online

Hidden curriculum

Values or behaviors that students learn indirectly over the course of their schooling A set of behavioral traits such as punctuality, neatness, discipline, hard work, competition, and obedience, and even ideologies like racial and gender hegemony (Jay 2003). The socialization children receive from teachers, staff members, and other students occurs simultaneously and overlaps with what they learn in the family.

Independent variable

Variable that does not change; stands alone Causes a change in the dependent variable Ex. Age

Dependent variable

Variable that is dependent on something else - changes depending on other factors Ex. Views on abortion, Test Scores

Philip Zimbardo

Violated several ethical standards when conducting his research

Of the following, who was one the of the earliest radical race theorists?

W.E.B DuBois

W.E.B DuBois (1868-1963)

Was a notable pioneer in the study of race relations as a professor of sociology at Atlanta University and one of the most influential African American leaders of his time. Race-Conflict Theory One of the earliest radical race theorists Wrote first case study of black communities in the US (gave them a voice) Earliest radical race theorist First African American to earn PhD from Harvard

Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)

Was born in England to progressive parents who made sure their daughter was well educated. She became a journalist and political economist, proclaiming views that were radical for her time: endorsing labor unions, the abolition of slavery, and women's suffrage. Felt she was denied respect as a single woman. She was disappointed by American democracy. Most important contribution to sociology: translating Comte's "Intro to Positive Philosophy" to English

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) NOT ON EXAM

Was primarily responsible for the establishment of sociology in Britain and America. In 1862, Spencer drew up a list of what he called "first principles" (in a book by that name), and near the top of the list was the notion of evolution driven by natural selection. He coined the phrase "survival of the fittest;" his social philosophy is known as social Darwinism The scope and volume of his writing served to announce sociology as a serious discipline and laid the groundwork for the next generation of theorists, whose observations of large-scale social change would bring a new viewpoint to social theory.

Which of the following is an example of a latent function?

While Deborah was in class she made two friends, Jackie and Anna.

Which of the following is Marianne Weber most likely to agree with?

Women are individual beings who deserve to be recognized apart from their husbands

Proletariat

Workers; those who have no means of production on their own and so are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live Everything of value in society resulted from human labor, proletariat's most valuable asset

When using the sociological imagination, what do you gain from it?

You discover new relationships among factors You challenge the beliefs and ideas of selves You learn about yourself and others You understand why people make choices (answer: all the above)