Chapter 1: Vocabulary Flashcards
sociology:
systematic study of human society and social interaction.
why is sociology systemic?
bc sociologists apply theoretical and research ideas to examinations of social behavior
why do sociologists study human societies?
to develop theories of how human behavior is shaped by group life and how group life is affected by individuals
what is meant by the sociological imagination?
ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society (Mills, 1959)
describe the historical context in which sociological thinking developed:
brought about by industrialization and urbanization
identify reasons why many early social thinkers were concerned with social change:
“stability or change?”
functionalist:
based on assumption that society is a stable, orderly system
Manifest functions:
intended and/or overtly recognized by the participants in a social unit
Latent functions:
not intended functions; hidden by participants
Dysfunctions:
undesirable consequences of any element of a society
Conflict perspectives:
groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources
(politics, litigation, negotiations, family discussions about financial matters)
macrolevel analysis:
examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, social systems instead of looking at important social dynamics in individuals’ lives
symbolic interactionism:
examines day-to-day interactions of people and their behavior in groups
microlevel analysis:
focuses on small groups (symbolic interactionism)
according to symbolic interactionism perspectives:
society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups
according to postmodern perspectives:
existing theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by post-industrialization, consumerism, and global communications
why is sociological research necessary?
and how it challenges our commonsense believes about pressing social issues (suicide):
to question ordinary assumptions and to use specific research methods to find out more about the social world
Difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
qualitative is not so accurate, does not use numbers.
quantitative uses numbers to show better results
Give steps in Deductive Research Method(classic):
- find a problem
- review literature
- form hypothesis
- develop research design
- collect/analyze data
- conclude, report findings
Give steps in Inductive Research Method (inclusive):
- find a problem
- review literature + develop research design
- develop research design + collect/analyze data
- collect/analyze data + review literature
- generate hypotheses for theory construction/draw conclusions and report findings
Qualitative Research Model:
more likely to be used when the question does not easily lend itself to numbers and statistical methods.
Research methods:
specific strategies/techniques for systematically conducting research
- survey research
- secondary analysis of existing data
- field research
- experiments
types of surveys:
- questionnaire
2. interview
questionnaire:
printed research containing a series of items to which subjects respond. often “agree” or “disagree” statements
interview:
data-collection encounter where interview asks someone questions and records the answers
secondary analysis of existing data:
researchers use existing material and analyze data that were originally collected by others
secondary analysis includes Content Analysis which is:
the systematic examination of cultural artifacts or various forms of communication to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about social life
field research:
study of social life in its natural setting: observing and interviewing people where they live, work, and play
participant observation:
process of collecting systematic observations while being part of the activities of the group that the researcher is studying
ethnography:
detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years
experiment:
carefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects’ attitudes or behavior
experimental group:
contains the subjects who are exposed to an independent variable to study its effect on them
control group:
contains the subjects who are not exposed to the independent variable
correlation:
exists when two variables are associated more frequently than could be expected by chance
3 conditions to satisfy a cause-effect relationship:
- a correlation must be shown to exist
- the independent variable must have occurred prior to the dependent variable
- any change to the dependent variable must NOT have been caused by an outside variable
4 American Sociological Association (ASA) Code of Ethics 2008/1999:
- maintain objectivity and integrity in their research; disclose their findings in full, including possible interpretations of the data
- must safeguard the participants’ right to privacy and dignity while protecting them from harm
- must protect confidential info always
- must acknowledge research collaboration and assistance received from others; disclose all sources of financial support
anomie:
Durkheim.
condition in which social control becomes ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and of a sense of purpose in society
social Darwinism:
Herbert Spencer.
best adapted survive and prosper, the poorly adapted die out
