Chapter 1 - Introduction To Sociology

Question 1

What is society?

Answer 1

• A large number of people living in the same area, sharing similar culture and political system
• a web of relationships among a plurality of individuals who are both similar and different

Question 2

Social facts

Answer 2

Patterned ways of thinking and acting

Question 3

Elements of society

Answer 3

• Social structure

- Social processes

Question 4

Social structure

Answer 4

Refers to patterns in the way a society is organized.

Influences beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.

Question 5

Social structure includes…

Answer 5

> groups (informal/formal organizations)
social statuses/roles
social institutions (economy, government, education, family, media, etc)
culture (language, norms, beliefs and values)

Question 6

Social processes

Answer 6

The social structure and cultural meanings arise out of interactions among individuals - reality is “socially constructed”

Question 7

Human agency

Answer 7

Resisting conformity, thinking and acting independently, making decisions and altering their circumstances (exercising free-will)

Question 8

Sociology

Answer 8

Systematic study of human groups and interactions among individuals

Question 9

Sociological study

Answer 9

• methodical, rigorous, analytical
• examines connections b/w the individual and the wider society ~ how societies influence individuals and the ways people shape society

Question 10

How is sociology different from other social sciences?

Answer 10

It focuses more on social relations shops and studies cultural, political and economic factors influencing what we do as individuals and as a society

Question 11

Why study sociology?

Answer 11

• achieve greater self-understanding
• Understand social issues that affect us
• dispel harmful myths and stereotypes
• bring about greater social justice through change
• improve the lives of individuals and groups

Question 12

How do sociologists study society?

Answer 12

-by gathering empirical data:
> research methods include: observations, surveys, detailed interviews, case studies, content analysis, community based approaches, etc.

• involves rigorous analysis
• subjective understandings of reality

Question 13

Peter Berger summarized the work of sociology as:

Answer 13

“Seeing the general in the particular:”

• finding patterns and relationships among seemingly unique and isolated phenomena, and uncovering the influence of “social facts”

And

“Seeing the strange in the familiar”

• questioning things we take for granted as “normal” and recognizing their socially constructed character

Question 14

Sociological imagination

Answer 14

• C. Wright Mills
• connecting the individual and society and recognizing that our lives are shaped by broader social forces
  > seeing “private troubles” as “public issues

-viewing our social world as an outsider, thinking critically and questioning things we take for granted
> helps us see that social conditions can be changed

Question 15

The importance of a global sociological perspective

Answer 15

• societies are interconnected
• the problems of one nation may be caused by another
• global social issues require global solutions
• learn about our society through comparison and solve our own society’s problems
• learn more about Canada’s diverse ethnic population
• develop greater acceptance of cultural differences