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128 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is sociology? |
the study of social behavior & the interactions of people in groups
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Is sociology more apt to examine individual personalities or trends?
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trends
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Define deviant.
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one whose behaviors go against the trends within a society
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How do sociologists study behavior?
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in systematic, structured ways as a science
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What is the basis for studying something as a science?
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using the scientific method
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What are the two main categories of sciences?
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natural and social
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What do natural sciences study?
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nature
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What do social sciences study?
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human behavior
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Name 3 to 5 examples of natural sciences.
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anatomy (and physiology), astronomy, biology, chemistry, and physics.
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What are the 7 social sciences?
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anthropology, economics, history, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology
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Do social sciences have less or more reproducible results?
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less reproducible
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Characterize the experts within a science that is less reproducible.
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They have more differing points of view.
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What is (one of) the earliest known disciplines related to sociology, and what society started it?
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(a) social philosophy, (b) the Greeks
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What is the main difference between social philosophy and sociology?
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Sociology is more structured.
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What historical event triggered the accelerated growth of sociology?
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the Industrial Revolution
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How did the Industrial Revolution change human dynamics (3 parts)?
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(a) People moved from farms to cities, and (b) came into much closer proximity to one another. (c) This suddenly increased the number of interactions among people.
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Who are 5 of the greatest, historical contributors to modern sociology?
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August Comte ("ow-GOOSED comt"), Emil Durkheim ("DIRK-hime"), Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, and Max Weber ("MOCKS VAY-bur")
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Who coined the term "sociology"?
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August Comte
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What is the main theory that August Comte contributed to sociology?
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positivism
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Define positivism.
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(the idea that) social behavior can be measured scientifically
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What is the main theory that Herbert Spencer contributed to sociology?
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social Darwinism
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Define social Darwinism.
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("survival of the fittest:") Those who are biologically more fit to survive are higher on the social ladder.
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What other sociological theory did social Darwinism help develop?
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functionalism
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What 2 main sociological theories did Karl Marx contribute to sociology?
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dialectical materialism and economic determinism
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Define economic determinism.
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The type of economy determines all other social relationships.
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Define dialectical materialism.
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A society changes through conflict among various parts within that society.
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synonym for dialectical materialism
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(synonym for) conflict theory
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What is the main theory that Emil Durkheim contributed to sociology?
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social patterns
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Approximately how did Durkheim define social patterns?
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Society is not chaotic; it has structures, rules, and regulations.
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Who is known as the first great methodologist, and why?
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(a) Emil Durkheim (b) was the first person to study a specific social situation using the scientific method.
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What social situation did Durkheim first study scientifically?
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suicide
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What sociological research method did Durkheim use to study suicide?
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archival research
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What is the tangible result of Durkheim's use of the scientific method, and when did he create it?
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(a) He wrote the book _Suicide_ (b) in the late 1800s.
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What are the 2 main theories that Max Weber ("VAY-burr") contributed to sociology?
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value-free sociology and symbolic interaction
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Define value-free sociology.
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Using it means to study others objectively, without using one's own values and judgments (and, when necessary, to use the values of those being studied to make judgments).
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What are the 3 main schools of thought within sociology?
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conflict theory, functionalism, and symbolic interaction
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How does functionalism view society?
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It views it as being stable, orderly, and harmonious.
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Within functionalism, how are functions related to structures (2 parts)?
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(a) Structures perform the functions, and (b) every structure must match to a function.
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synonym for function within functionalism
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synonym for a society's need within functionalism
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synonym for structure within functionalism
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synonym for pattern within functionalism
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Name 3 examples of paired sociological functions and structures.
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the need to reproduce and family; caring for the sick and hospitals; educating the young and schools
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What happens in functionalism as new social needs arise?
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Society forms patterns (structures) to meet those needs.
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Define manifest function.
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the intended, recognized reason that some pattern in society exists (in simpler terms, its main purpose)
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Define latent function.
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an unintended consequence of some pattern in society
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A social dysfunction is a kind of what?
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latent function
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What is the manifest function of a car?
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transportation
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Name 3 to 5 social dysfunctions of the car.
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accidents, death, driving schools, insurance, and pollution
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Name 3 to 9 latent functions of the car that are not dysfunctional.
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collecting, freedom (independence), governmental licensing, hobbies, jobs, mobile motels, professional racing, status symbol, and suburbanization.
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What is functionalism's "opposite"?
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conflict theory
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In conflict theory, label the two groups that are in conflict.
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The "haves" versus the "have-nots"
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In conflict theory, what are the 3 fundamental, contentious "possessions", of which the "Have-nots" want more?
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money, power, and privilege
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What are 3 common examples of pairs of conflicting groups within U.S. society?
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men versus women, rich versus poor, and white versus non-white
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In conflict theory, what do the "Haves" want?
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the status quo (They want things to remain the same.)
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What are the 5 ideal states of society, in order, according to conflict theory?
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social inequality, tension, conflict, compromise, and social change
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In conflict theory, what ideally happens as a result of social change?
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Society changes for the better.
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How does conflict theory usually differ from reality?
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A society might stay at one state, not moving to the next (e.g., constant tension with no conflict).
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Define symbolic interaction.
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people interacting using various symbols to communicate
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Define symbol.
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something that represents something else
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What are the 3 main categories of symbols?
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language, physical gestures, and mechanical devices
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What are the 2 main forms of language?
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oral and written
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What kinds of societies are able to use mechanical devices as symbols?
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only "technologically advanced" ones
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Name 2 examples of mechanical devices that act as symbols.
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doorbell and traffic light
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What precondition must be met for a symbol to be effective?
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All interacting parties must understand its meaning.
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Can sociologists make general predictions, specific predictions, both, or neither?
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only general predictions
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What are the 4 ways human beings acquire information?
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common sense, intuition, science, and tradition
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Define common sense.
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the belief that something is true because, from what our senses tell us, it seems logical and/or it repeats past experiences
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Define science.
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a logical system that bases knowledge on facts derived from direct, systematic observation (but neither from superficial observation nor from past, personal experiences)
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Do sociologists study entire populations or samples from those populations?
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samples only (to do otherwise is usually too time-consuming)
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Define sample.
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a smaller group drawn systematically (e.g., by random selection) from a larger population
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Define variable.
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anything that can be different from one situation to another
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Define independent variable.
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a variable that causes something to happen in a relationship
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Define dependent variable.
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an effect caused by an independent variable
(Mnemonic: An effect depends upon a cause.) |
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In the hypothesis, "drunk driving causes accidents", which is the dependent variable, and which is the independent variable?
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(a) The dependent variable is "accidents"; (b) the independent variable is "drunk driving".
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What 4 research strategies do sociologists use?
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content analysis, controlled experiments, participant observation, and survey research
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synonym for content analysis
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synonym for archival research
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Define content analysis.
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conducting research using information that already exists
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What are the 3 characteristics of content analysis regarding its use?
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It is a form of unobtrusive research, it is secondary analysis (i.e., it does not come directly from people), and it is not often used by sociologists.
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Define survey research.
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asking people the same set of standard questions
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Name 3 to 11 examples of surveys.
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customer service opinions, political polls, product opinions, government surveys, Nielsen ratings, J. D. Powers and Associates surveys, Kelly Blue Book surveys, consumer guides, censuses, elections, and teacher evaluations.
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What are 3 of the advantages of survey research?
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The information is current and timely; it is possible to garner information from a larger sample size; and it is a versatile tool.
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What are 3 of the disadvantages of survey research?
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Social desirability bias introduces inaccuracies; some people do not respond; and the data is shallow (not allowing for explanations of answers).
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Define social desirability bias.
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Lying or providing inaccurate information on a survey
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What are 2 reasons social desirability bias might take place, even when the survey is completely anonymous?
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The person being surveyed might not trust in this anonymity, or the person may want to skew the results in a direction favorable to themselves.
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Define participant observation.
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when the researcher experiences other people's social settings as a participant
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What are the 2 advantages of participant observation?
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The information is first hand, and it is one of the best ways to find out why (i.e., determine a cause-and-effect relationship)
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What are the 6 disadvantages of participant observation?
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It can be dangerous; the group being studied might not accept the researcher; the researcher may lose objectivity; it is time-consuming; it is difficult to make generalizations; and it disrupts the researcher's personal life.
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What is the classic model of a controlled experiment?
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The researcher divides subjects into 2 groups of equal size, applies the independent variable to 1 group only, and then observes the differences between the groups with respect to the dependent variable
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What are the 2 advantages of a controlled experiment?
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It is excellent for determining cause and effect relationships, and it occurs in a controlled environment.
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What are the 3 disadvantages of a controlled experiment?
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The controlled environment is an artificial setting; there may be unexpected side-effects; and there may be ethical problems.
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Define society.
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a large group of people who interact with one another
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Define culture.
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how a group of people interact with one another
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What are the relationships among the terms culture, patterns of behavior, people, and society?
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A society is a group of people. A culture describes patterns of behavior within a society.
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Define culture shock.
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discomfort (and anxiety) felt while adapting to another culture
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Define material culture.
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physical objects that people create to fulfill some need
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Name 3 to 7 examples of material culture.
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appliances, artwork, cars, clothes, houses, phones, and money
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Define nonmaterial culture.
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ways of thinking that determine a society's behavior
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Name 3 to 11 examples of nonmaterial culture.
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concepts of time, diet, education, holidays, language, marriage and courtship customs, political ideologies, religion, respect and manners, rules for driving, and work
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Of what concept are both "values" and "norms" aspects?
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They are both aspects of culture.
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Define values.
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what a culture believes to be good and desirable
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(DELETED) What is your favorite color?
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Correct!
(o//_//o) |
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Name 3 to 10 specific examples of values in U.S. culture.
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democracy, education, equality & opportunity, freedoms, health, job security, religiosity, respect, safety, and wealth
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Define norm.
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how one is to behave in certain social situations (i.e., rules of conduct)
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What 2 aspects of culture are abstract and invisible?
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values and nonmaterial culture
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What 2 aspects of culture are concrete and visible?
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norms and material culture
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Name the 5 definitive concepts of values.
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beliefs, ideas, goals worth pursuing, opinions, what is important
(Mnemonic: BIG OW) |
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Name 3 defining concepts associated with norms.
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behaviors, means, how to achieve or express
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Name 2 examples of value-norm pairs.
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education and going to school; patriotism and serving in the military
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What are the 2 categories of norms?
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folkways and mores ("MORE-ayz")
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Define folkways.
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basic rules for everyday social situations
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Name 3 examples of folkways.
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clothes, food, and manners
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Define mores ("MORE-ayz").
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strong expectations or guidelines of right and wrong
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What are the 2 kinds of mores?
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proscriptive and prescriptive
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What function do proscriptive mores serve within a culture?
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admonishing people to avoid certain behaviors
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synonym for proscriptive mores
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synonym for taboos
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What function do prescriptive mores serve within a culture?
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admonishing people to behave in a certain way
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In what does a violation of mores usually result?
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punishments
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In what 2 ways does a culture achieve social control?
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by punishing nonconformity and by rewarding conformity (usually to mores)
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Can norms and values change over time, or do they remain the same?
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They can change over time.
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Define ethnocentrism.
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interpreting the behavior of another culture through the perspective of one's own culture (and making judgments)
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Define cultural relativism.
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viewing a culture objectively without biases
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What are the 2 main groups within any culture that contribute to its diversity?
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countercultures and subcultures
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Define subculture.
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a culture that has some values that differ from the larger culture, but still shares the more important values of the larger culture
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Define counterculture.
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a culture that has values in direct opposition to important values of the larger culture
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Name 3 to 8 examples of subcultures in the U.S. at one time or another.
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the Amish, celebrities, ethnic enclaves, immigrant groups, musicians, Native Americans, religious groups, and teenagers
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Name 3 to 9 examples of countercultures in the U.S. at one time or another.
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Communists, cults, dissident groups, drug addicts, gangs, hippies, organized crime, terrorists, and white supremacists
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What are the relationships among the terms countercultures, folkways, mores, and subcultures?
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Members of subcultures tend to break folkways, while members of countercultures tend to break mores.
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What cultural group within the U.S. is in a state of transition with respect to being a counterculture and a subculture?
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homosexuals
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Why do sociologists have a code of ethics?
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to promote "the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom sociologists work" (http://www.asanet.org/about/ethics.cfm)
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