Exam 1

Question 1

Sociology

Answer 1

The study of human society and social behavior

Question 2

Society

Answer 2

A group of people who shape their lives in aggregated and patterned ways that distinguish their group from the others

Question 3

Social Sciences

Answer 3

the disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world

Question 4

Sociological Perspective

Answer 4

a way of looking at the world through the sociological lens

Question 5

Microsociology

Answer 5

The level of analysis that studies face-to-face and small-group interactions in order to understand how they affect the larger patterns and structures of society

Question 6

Macrosociology

Answer 6

The level of analysis that studies large-scale social structures in order to determine how they affect the lives of groups and individuals

Question 7

Theories

Answer 7

Abstract propositions that explain the social world and make predictions about the future

Question 8

Paradigm

Answer 8

A set of assumptions, theories, and perspectives that makes up a way of understanding social reality

Question 9

Structural Functionalism

Answer 9

A paradigm based on the assumption that society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures

Question 10

Solidarity

Answer 10

the degree of integration or unity within a particular society; the extent to which individuals feel connected to other members of their group

Question 11

Mechanical Solidarity

Answer 11

The type of social bonds present in premodern, agrarian societies, in which shared traditions and beliefs created a sense of social cohesion

Question 12

Organic solidarity

Answer 12

The type of social bonds present in modern societies, based on difference, interdependence, and individual rights

Question 13

Anomie

Answer 13

“normlessness”; alienation and loss of purpose that result from weaker social bond and an increased paced of change

Question 14

Structure

Answer 14

A social institution that is relatively stable over time and that meets the needs of a society before performing functions necessary to maintain social order and stability

Question 15

Dysfunction

Answer 15

A disturbance to or undesirable consequence of some aspect of the social system

Question 16

Manifest functions

Answer 16

the obvious, intended functions of a social structure for the social system

Question 17

Latent functions

Answer 17

the less obvious, perhaps unintended functions of a social structure

Question 18

Alienation

Answer 18

the sense of dissatisfaction the modern worker feels as a result of producing goods that are owned and controlled by someone else

Question 19

False consciousnesss

Answer 19

A denial of the truth on the part of the oppressed when they fail to recognize that the interests of the ruling class are embedded in the dominant ideology

Question 20

Class consciousness

Answer 20

the recognition of social inequality on the part of the oppressed, leading to revolutionary action

Question 21

Critical Theory

Answer 21

a contemporary form of conflict theory that criticizes many different systems and ideologies of domination and oppression

Question 22

Praxis

Answer 22

The Application of theory to practical action in an effort to improve aspects of society

Question 23

Rationalization

Answer 23

The application of economic logic to human activity, use of formal rules and regulations in order to maximize efficiency without consideration of subjective or individual concerns

Question 24

Iron Cage

Answer 24

Pessimistic description of modern life, in which we are caught in bureaucratic structures that control our lives through rigid rules and rationalization

Question 25

Pragmatism

Answer 25

a perspective that assumes organisms make practical adaptations to their environments; humans do this through cognition, interpretation, and interaction

Question 26

Postmodernism

Answer 26

a paradigm that suggests that social reality is diverse, pluralistic, and constantly in flux

Question 27

Modernism

Answer 27

a paradigm that places trust in the power of science and technology to create progress, solve problems, and improve life

Question 28

Midrange theory

Answer 28

an approach that integrates empiricism and grand theory

Question 29

Replicability

Answer 29

the ability of research to be repeated and, later verified by others

Question 30

Correlation

Answer 30

a relationship between variables in which they change together and may or may not be casual

Question 31

Causation

Answer 31

a relationship between variables in which a change in one directly produces a change in the other

Question 32

Intervening variable

Answer 32

a third variable, sometimes overlooked, that explains the relationship between two other variables

Question 33

Spurious correlation

Answer 33

the appearance of causation produced by an intervening variable

Question 34

Deductive Approach

Answer 34

an approach whereby the researcher formulates a hypothesis first and then gathers data to test that hypothesis

Question 35

Indictive approach

Answer 35

first gathering data then formulating a theory to fit it

Question 36

Etnography

Answer 36

studying people in their environment to understand the meanings they give their activities

Question 37

Rapport

Answer 37

a positive relationship

Question 38

Autoetnography

Answer 38

the feeling and actions of the researcher are the main point

Question 39

Thick Description

Answer 39

presenting detailed data on interactions and meaning within a cultural context, from the perspective of its members

Question 40

Reflexivity

Answer 40

how the identity and activities of the researcher influence what is going on in the field setting

Question 41

Grounded theory

Answer 41

an inductive method of generating theory from data by creating categories in which to place data and then looking for relationships among categories

Question 42

Representativeness

Answer 42

the degree to which a particular studied group is similar to, or represents, any part of the larger society.

Question 43

Validity

Answer 43

the accuracy of a question or measurement tool