Society: The Basics Ninth Edition Chapter 1 Vocabulary

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Sociology

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The systematic study of human society.

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Sociological Perspective

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Seeing the general in the particular; seeing general patterns in the behavior of particular people.

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Global Perspective

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The study of the larger world and our society's place in it.

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High-income Countries

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The nations with the highest overall standards of living.

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Middle-Income Countries

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Nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a whole.

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Low-Income Countries

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Nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor.

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How do we apply the Sociological Perspective?

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1. The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of "common sense."
2. The sociological perspective helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our everday lives.
3. The sociological perspective empowers us to be active participants in our society.
4. The sociological perspective helps us live in a diverse world.

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Theoretical Approach

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A basic image of society that guides thinking and research. There are three theoretical approaches in sociology: the structural-functional approach, the social-conflict approach, and the symbolic-interaction approach.

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Structural-Functional Approach

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A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

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Social Structure

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Any relatively stable pattern of social behavior.

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Social Functions

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The consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole.

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Manifest Functions

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The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern.

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Latent Functions

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The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern.

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Social Dysfunction

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Any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society.

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Social-Conflict Approach

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A framework for building theory that sees society as an arean of inequality that generates conflict and change.

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Gender-Conflict Approach

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A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between men and women.

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Feminism

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The advocacy of social equality for women and men.

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Race-Conflict Approach

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A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories.

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Macro-Level Orientation

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A broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole.

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Micro-Level Orientation

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A close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations.

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Symbolic-Interaction Approach

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A framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals.

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Science

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Logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation.

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Scientific Sociology

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The study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior.

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Empirical Evidence

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Information we can verify with our senses.

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Reliability

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Consistency in measurement.

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Validity

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Actually measuring exactly what you intend to measure.

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Concept

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A mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form.

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Variable

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Concept whose value changes from case to case. (IE: Height)

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Measurement

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A procedure for determining the value of a variable in a specific case.

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Correlation

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A relationship in which two (or more) variables change together.

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Cause and Effect

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A relationship in which change in one variable causes change in another.

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Interpretive Sociology

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The study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world.

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Critical Sociology

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The study of society that focuses on the need for social change.

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Research Method

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A systematic plan for doing research.

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Experiment

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A research method for investigating cause and effect under highly controlled conditions.

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Participant Observation

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A research method in which investigators systematically observe people while joining them in their routine activities. Also referred to fieldwork.