chapter 1: what is sociology Flashcards
What Is Sociology?
The scientific study of human social life, group and societies
What is the difference between social science and common sense?
SOCIAL SCIENCE
1. not just looking at things
2. use of scientific method
3. verifiable evidence
4. factual observations
COMMON SENSE
1. just looking at things
2. no scientific method
3. no variable evidence
4. no factual observations
what was the sociological imagination?
C. Wright 1959 explained the need to move away from viewing the problems as personal trouble and to recognize them as public issues
what is autism
autism is a medical condition and also a social issue. signs of autism
1.strange attachments to objects
2. poor speech or lack of speech
3. lack of awareness of damger
4. difficulties facing changes
5. inability to relate to others
what is social structure
Social structures are dynamic. societies are always in process of structuration, which means they are constantly affected by human actions.
what is globalizations?
Globalization refers to the process by which people, ideas, goods, services, and capital move across borders and become integrated on a global scale. Globalization affects all of us every day, both as individuals and as members of nation-states, economic markets, and more.
Social change
Social change refers to the transformation over time of social institutions, behaviors, values, and norms within a society.
sociology a dicipline that was born in 1838 for dua revolutions
1. industrial 1760 to 1840
2. french 1789 to 1799
Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte (1798–1857) was a French philosopher and sociologist who is best known for founding the discipline of sociology and for developing the theory of positivism and is also known as the father of sociology.
Émile Durkheim
- Durkheim (1858-1917) set out to study social facts. These are those aspects of social life that shape individual actions.
- Saw society as a body that needed all its parts to function in harmony. like family, education, politics, economy, religion and media.
- conducted cross-cultural study on Suside due to lack of social integration
Karl Marx
- karl marx 1818 1883
blue collared labours and white collar elite class - Karl Marks was revolutionary who wanted the capitalist to relinquish their power.
- he was against class conflicts and wanted a class less society
Max Weber
- Weber (1864-1920) saw power, not only in the economy but also in ideas and values.
- He studied the structure of bureaucracies.
- Studied many other aspects of social life, including religion, law, and power.
Perspectives in Sociology
Symbolic Interactionism
Functionalism
Marxism
Feminist theory
Postmodern theory
Symbolic Interactionism
The exchange of information between individuals via symbols in social interaction that helps us give meaning to the experiences in our lives.
This exchange may be through language, but may also be non-verbal.
Small-scale interactions of individuals, not society as a whole.
Key figure: George Herbert Mead
Functionalism
It sees society as acomplex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
Seeing society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements namely: norms, customs, traditions and institutions.
This perspective is derived from Comte and Durkheim.
Modern figures: Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton
Marxism
Those working under this approach derive their approach from Marx, most significantly as regards concerns about power, conflict, and ideology.
This perspective is most commonly applied to capitalism and economic systems.
Feminist theory
Feminist theory focuses ongender inequality. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, objectification, oppression, patriarchy and stereotyping.
Postmodern theory
- Social life is not based on any kind of linear history, but is rather always in flux.
- The media is often seen as a key player in how people understand their lives.
- Postmodern society is highly pluralistic and diverse.
- Based on rejections
Research Method Questions, Sociologists ask four primary types of questions which are based on?
- Factual (what happened?)
- Comparative (did this happen everywhere?)
- Developmental (has this happened over time?)
- Theoretical (what underlies this phenomenon?)
Macro sociology
Macro sociology looks at society from a large-scale perspective. Functionalists and Marxists.
what are 7 Research Method questions
- Define the research problem.
- Review the evidence—do a literature review.
- Make the problem precise—specify your hypothesis.
- Work out a research design.
- Carry out the research—collect your data.
- Interpret the results—analyze your data.
- Report the findings—publish or present them.
Micro sociology
Goes into great detail to examine society at the individual, behavioral level. Symbolic interactionists.
Role of Sociology in our Lives
- Understanding Social Circumstances.
- Awareness of Cultural Differences.
- Assessing the Effects of Policies.
- Self-Enlightenment.
