Lecture 4-6 M1 Flashcards
What are the modern day types of sociology called?
- micro extremism
- macro extremism
- micro macro linkage
What category does social conflict approach fall under?
Macro extremism
What does social conflict approach emphasize?
Emphasizes the constraining nature of social influences on our actions
What bad things does social conflict approach focus on?
-power, conflict, domination-subordination relations, inequality and change
What does social conflict approach say holds society together
Domination subordination relationships
Who does social conflict approach sound like?
Marx, it pays attention to class division
What are the main points of micro extremism?
- individual
- wants to study everyday routines
- individuals construct society
- individuals intentions, reasons and motives are important
What are the types of micro extremism?
- symbolic interactionism
- ethnomethodology
What is the focus of symbolic interactionism?
Interaction that takes place between people through symbols, language
What is the definition of symbolic interactionism?
Society arises as a shared reality that its members construct as they interact with one another
What is a sub idea to symbolic interactionism?
Thomas theorem
What is Thomas theorem?
“Situations we define as real become real in their consequences,” police that mistake something for weapon
What is the goal of symbolic interactionism?
Understand the meanings that individuals attach to their behaviour in everyday life
What does ethnomethodology study?
Studies everyday life by focusing on what people actually do
What is ethnomethodology concerned with?
Ethnomethods
What are ethnomethods?
The everyday methods that people use to make sense of what others do and what they say
What is highlighted by Garfunkel’s breaching experiments?
- we all routinely use ethnomethods but are just unaware that we are using them
- breaching experiment is an experiment that disrupts the flow of everyday life
- student engaged in convo with husband
What does micro macro linkage reject?
Rejects both micro and macro extremism
Where does micro macro linkage start from?
Starts from the link between individuals and societies
What does micro macro linkage argue?
Argues that individuals and societies are mutually constituting and mutually constituted
What theory is under micro macro linkage?
Structuration theory
What is the definition of structuration theory
A synthesis of structure and individual effects. Acknowledges the interaction of meaning, standards and values and power
What do feminist perspectives in sociology all share?
- the experiences of women as women
- social inequality and subordination of women
- strategies for achieving the liberation of women
What can be compared to feminist perspective?
Social conflict approach
What are the alternatives to sociology research?
- authority
- tradition
- common sense
- personal experience
What sets sociology research apart from the alternatives ways of knowing?
Sociological research uses a scientific method
What does using a scientific method produce?
Empirically verified knowledge
What types of data does sociology use?
Quantitative and qualitative
What are the stages of the research process?
- Research problem
- Selecting research method
- Carry out research
- Interpret the results
- Report the findings
What are the four kinds or questions sociologists asks when formulating the research question? Which are descriptive research?
- what happened
- did this happen everywhere
- has this happened over time
- why did this happen
What is the most important question to ask when formulating a research problem?
Why did this happen
Define hypothesis
A tentative statement of the relationship between two variables that is to be tested
Are elements of hypotheses variables? What are the two variables?
Yes, independent and dependent variables
Define research methods
Actual techniques of investigation that are used to study the social world
What are the 6 forms of research methods
- survey
- participant observation
- documentary research
- experiment
- unobtrusive measures
- mixed methods studies
What did Weber mean when he called sociology value free sociology?
Strive for objectivity
What is random sampling
Every member of the population has an equal probability of being included in the sample, it ensures generalizability
What is participant observation
An investigator spends lengthy amounts of time with group studied and can take part in their activities
What are the pros and cons of participant observation
- provides better info about social life
- more flexible
- problems of generalizability
- skill of investigator is key
What was Goffmans research findings? What is it an example of?
- worked in a mental hospital
- participant observation
What was an important finding of Goffmans research?
Saw life in the hospital that others wouldn’t know of, working patients
What is an operational definition? What is an example of operational definition of social class?
Specifies how your going to measure the concept, could be income, education or occupation
Define reliability
Quality of consistent measurement
Define validity
Quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure
Is reliability a guarantee of validity?
No reliability does not guarantee validity
What are the pros and cons of flexibility in participant observation?
- makes replication difficult to do
- allows sociologists to get a more accurate picture
- trades off reliability for validity
What is primary data?
Data is collected by the researcher
What is documentary research?
Research method in which a researcher uses information collected by others, secondary data
What is another name for documentary research?
Methods of secondary analysis or archival investigation
What is Asheorths study about and what is it an example of?
Trench warfare and it’s an example of documentary research
What are the weaknesses of documentary research?
- sources may be partial
- sources may be difficult to authenticate