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Sociology 121 > Chapter 1- Sociological Method And Theory > Flashcards

Chapter 1- Sociological Method And Theory Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define Sociology

A

The systematic study of human society

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2
Q

Sociological Perspective

A

Peter Berger
Seeing the general in the particular
Seeing the strange in the familiar
Understanding how actions relate within the social context

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3
Q

Auguste Comte

A

Developed sociology into a scientific study rather than just common sense knowledge
Wanted to establish a more ideal society

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4
Q

Auguste Comte’s 3 Stages of Understanding Behaviour

A

Theological- behaviour is a result of God’s will
Metaphysical
Scientific- social and natural sciences combined, based on facts and not speculation

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5
Q

Auguste Comte’s Bases of Common Sense Knowledge

A

Tradition- it is the way it’s always been
Faith- it is because of Gods will
Authority- humans respond to direction

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6
Q

3 Factors in the Rise of Sociology

A

Industrial Economy- change from small, tight knit, farms to large, anonymous factories
Growth of Cities- caused problems like unemployment, homelessness, pollution, high crime
Political Change- thought processes changed- loss of moral focus to focus on self

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7
Q

Sociological Imagination

A

C Wright Mills
People see and connect their personal problems to the larger social problems
Helps us understand how society and social structures influence us

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8
Q

Micro-Effect

A

The effect of social structures on the individual

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9
Q

Macro-effect

A

Effect of social structures on the global level

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10
Q

Meso-Effect

A

Often tied in with Macro, the effect social structures have on groups, societies, or nations

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11
Q

Define theory

A

Statement of how and why specific facts are related and interrelated
Abstract framework for making sense of the world
Needs empirical evidence and research

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12
Q

Define Social Theory

A

Explains the how’s and whys of human behaviour in the real world

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13
Q

Theoretical Approach

A

A basic, broad image of society that guides thinking and research

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14
Q

Macro Theories

A

Focus on the big picture; how large social structures impact society as a whole

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15
Q

Micro Theories

A

How social structures facilitate/ impact individual interaction

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16
Q

A good social theory…

A

… Will let you connect individual experience with social structures
… Will employ the sociological imagination
… Will include many facets of a social problem
… Will look at many impacts and causes on different levels

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17
Q

Structural Functionalist Approach

A

Emilie Durkheim
How behaviour is governed by stable patterns
How social structures and social facts contribute to social stability
Because individuals are influenced by social facts, behaviour can be predicted and there is a shared moral code in society

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18
Q

Social Facts

A

Identifiable patterns and ways of behaving in society

  • exist prior to and separate from an individual
  • characteristic of a group or society rather than an individual
  • have a coercive effect that has an influence on individuals
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19
Q

Herbert Spencer

A

Compared society to the human body

20
Q

Robert Merton

A

Social structures have different functions, some that are intended and others not

21
Q

Manifest Functions

A

The intended fictions of a social structure

22
Q

Latent Functions

A

Hidden or unintended functions of a social structure

23
Q

Dysfunction

A

When a social structure doesn’t function properly

24
Q

Social Conflict Approach

A

Karl Marx
Society is an arena of inequality that leads to social conflict
How is social inequality maintained within the social structures
Studies sociology to change society

25
Q

Feminism and Gender Conflict Approach

A

Harriet Martineau

Argues for equality between men and women in all areas of society

26
Q

Race Conflict Approach

A

WEB Dubois

Focus on inequality in racial and ethnic groups

27
Q

Symbolic Interaction Approach

A

Max Weber
Focuses on face to face interactions
Individual action is not all driven by the social groups that one is involved in
All actions are understandable when viewed from the point of view of the individual (subjective meaning)

28
Q

Methodology of Sociology

A

Methodology is the way we “do” sociology to act on theories

29
Q

Positivist Sociology

A

Linked with Structure Functionalist Approach
Based on scientific observation to uncover social facts
Interested in making laws for behaviour in order to predict human interaction
Needs empirical evidence

30
Q

Concepts

A

Ideas that symbolize something that can be related together to explain or understand

31
Q

Variables

A

A concept that varies over time and place

32
Q

Measurement

A

A way of understanding what the concept or variable is

33
Q

Correlation

A

A relationship between variables, that may or may not be linked by causation

34
Q

Cause and Effect

A

Relationship where x causes y

35
Q

Spurious Variable

A

A third variable that relates to both x and y even though x and y might not be related

36
Q

Focuses for Taking Measurements

A

Reliability- dependability or consistency
Validity- accuracy of your measurement
Objectivity- the results are not changed by bias

37
Q

Interpretive Sociology

A

Linked with Symbolic Interaction approach
Want to understand the meaning of the action
Use conversation, interview, and interaction to understand the subjective meaning of relationships between variables

38
Q

Critical Sociology

A

Linked with Social Conflict Approach
Critique society and provide solutions
The most politic methodology

39
Q

Literature Review

A

Review academic journals, studies, etc to understand what has been written about a topic

40
Q

Experiments

A

Explore a causal relationship between variables

41
Q

Survey Research

A

Easy and inexpensive way to reach many people

Used to obtain information on attitudes, beliefs, characteristics, knowledge, and behaviour

42
Q

Field Research

A

Observing social interaction in a natural setting
Participant observation or regular observations
Can raise large ethical questions

43
Q

Global Perspective

A

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

44
Q

Positivism

A

A scientific approach to knowledge based on positive facts as opposed to mere speculation

45
Q

Social Structure

A

Any relatively stable pattern of social behaviour

46
Q

Feminism

A

Support of social inequality for women and men

47
Q

Empirical Evidence

A

Information we can verify with our senses

Sociology 121 (8 decks)

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