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SOC100 > Module 1 > Flashcards

Module 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of “sociology”?

A

The systematic study of the social world & human behaviour.

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2
Q

What does “thinking sociologically” mean?

A

Making the familiar strange - looking deeper beyond surface facts at cultural traditions, local/geography, history of land, work/employment, etc.

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3
Q

What is the sociological imagination?

A

Describes the work of sociologists; the ability to see connections between individual lives and experiences to broader social & historical issues & forces.

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4
Q

What are the two categories within sociological imagination? I.e., who are we making connections between?

A

Personal troubles: Issues & events experienced by the individual & within their close relations.

Public issues: Dimensions of our social world & the historical circumstances that gave rise to them.

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5
Q

What are social structures?

A

Ordered sets of recurring patterns of behaviour & institutions; they make up our society. They are not deterministic, but they are significantly relevant.

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6
Q

What are the three levels of social structures?

A

Micro: individual interactions

Meso: above face to face - schools, organizations

Macro/Global: institutions

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7
Q

What is an institution?

A

An enduring & stable set of expectations/behaviours. They are based on a shared value system that is reinforced by the structural components of a society.

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8
Q

What is “social construction”?

A

Elements of our social world that are products of particular cultural & historical context - they are not permanent or inherent.

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9
Q

What is agency?

A

Our ability/capacity to think & behave on our own accord, independent of larger social structural forces.

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10
Q

How does sociology compare to other social sciences?

A

They all use the research method, but they have different guiding questions that mark their field of study. Each discipline will often look at the same thing through various lenses.

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11
Q

What is professional sociology?

A

Findings of research shared through journal articles & books - the audience is for other sociologists.

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12
Q

What is public sociology?

A

Findings shared in accessible formats/platforms - the audience is the general public. This type of sociology is often used for policy making.

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13
Q

What is a theory?

A

A testable set of ideas designed to explain observations about our social world.

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14
Q

What are some areas of observation in sociology?

A

Individuals, groups, organizations, cultures, nations, global trends

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15
Q

What are the two (general) types of theories?

A

Microsociology: Looking at individuals & small groups
Macrosociology: Looking at patterns on a larger scale - institutions, large groups in society

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16
Q

What is a Sociology Canon?

A

Canon: A collection of works that are considered the most important & genuine.

Sociology Canon: A key organizing principle - particularly in relation to the founders of the discipline

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17
Q

What is a reform-oriented approach?

A

Designed to spark change & reform; popular among many early female sociologists leading to their exclusion from the sociology theory canon.

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18
Q

Why did sociology emerge as a field?

A

A broad social context of social, economic, technological, & ideological change that brought significant change to various social structures. There was a large desire to systematically map & understand these transformations.

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19
Q

What were the three most significant forces in the emergence of sociology? Why?

A
  1. The Growth of Science: decline of religious authority, scientific model to view the world, positivism
  2. The Industrial Revolution: major changes in production & family dynamics, changes in housing (rural -> urban centres), increased crime, industrial capitalism (Marx), patriarchy challenges with labourers
  3. The Rise of the Individual: individual influence on social context as the monarchy lost full control, revolutions (French & American)
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20
Q

What are the names of the five foundational perspectives/theories?

A

Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Feminist Theory, Postmodernism

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21
Q

What is the central idea of Conflict Theory?

A

Macro social; who gets what any why?

Looking at society in terms of a power relations/tensions based on who has social/economic classes & ownership of production. Mainly considering who has control over resources in a society.

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22
Q

What are the two groups in Conflict Theory?

A

Bourgeoisie: owns the means of productions - gain profits at the expense of their workers

Proletariat: only own their time & labour for wages

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23
Q

How is status maintained according to Conflict Theory?

A

Ideology: the values of the ruling class control how the working class understands its position in society

Thus, the working class accepts inequality - called false consciousness

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24
Q

What is class consciousness in Conflict Theory?

A

Awareness & understanding that members of a social class have about their social position. When realized, it can lead to social change.

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25
Q

According to Conflict Theory, how does social change occur?

A

The working class all realizing their common struggles & realizing class (vs. False) consciousness.

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26
Q

What is the central idea of Structural Functionalism?

A

Macrosocial; Sees society as a complex system of parts working together to promote social solidarity & stability.

Comparable to a complex organism

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27
Q

How does a society work/not work according to Structural Functionalists?

A

Stability & social cohesion lead to a healthy, working society. It will fall apart if it is not balanced.

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28
Q

What are the functions & dysfunctions of Structural Functionalism?

A

Functions: how a part functions to be beneficial to the whole - looks at each individual aspect of a society for its contribution

Manifest: visible & intended purposes of social structures
Ex. education system works to teach children a given curriculum or university to educate

Latent: invisible & unintended purposes of social structures
Ex. education system also provides social skills or university as a marriage market

Dysfunctions: elements that create instability
Ex. crime

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29
Q

What is social solidarity?

A

The group is cohesive based on interactions, shared values/beliefs, & norms

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30
Q

What is a social norm?

A

Standard or expected behaviours.

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31
Q

What does Anomie mean?

A

A negative individual state produced by absent or poorly-defined norms in society

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32
Q

What is socialization? Why is it important to Structural Functionalism?

A

It is how we learn the norms & values of our society - mainly through family, school, & culture.

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33
Q

What are values?

A

Generally accepted ideas about what is good, right, important, & desirable.

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34
Q

What is “opportunity for success” in Structural Functionalism?

A

An element of a properly functioning society; there are opportunities for people to realize their goals (ex. Education or economic pursuits).

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35
Q

What is social solidarity in Structural Functionalism?

A

The degree to which a group enjoys social cohesion based on shared values, beliefs, & interactions.

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36
Q

What happens when people go against societal values/norms?

A

Institutions are unable to smoothly operate & social order is disrupted. Thus, the society is no longer stable.

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37
Q

What is the main criticism of Structural Functionalism?

A

It does not fully account for social change as it over-emphasizes stability of a society.

38
Q

What is the central idea of Symbolic Interactionism?

A

Microsocial; society is created, recreated, & modified continuously by human activity.

There is more to society than our employment & living situation - interactions carry symbols & meaning.

39
Q

What is a symbol?

A

Objects & gestures that carry meaning (with broader significance) to those within a shared culture.

We move through the world on the basis of these meanings.

40
Q

What is Self vs. Identity?

A

Self: An individual identity consisting of their thoughts & attitudes about who they are.

Identity: Individual or group characteristics that signify to others who they are, including such things as gender & social class.

41
Q

What is verstehen?

A

An approach used to understand the meaning of phenomenon experiences from the perspective of participants in social life.

42
Q

What does “I” and “Me” mean in Symbolic Interactionism?

A

I: The part of the self that is active & impulsive.

Me: The objective part of the self that reflects learned expectations, rules, & attitudes through our interaction with other people.

43
Q

What is the generalized other?

A

The internalized expectations, rules, & attitudes of our broader society or culture. It is a lens we use to interpret & attach meaning to the actions of ourselves/others.

44
Q

According to Symbolic Interactionism, how do we attach meaning to things?

A
  1. People act according to the meaning we assign to things.
  2. Meanings are based on the history of our interactions; it is the sum of all our experiences.
  3. Meanings are modified & changed through our interactions with other people & their interpretations.
45
Q

What is the Dramaturgical Analysis? Explain all the elements.

A

A model describing how we present ourselves so we will be interpreted in specific ways. It is also called impression management.

Front Stage: How we carefully present.

Back Stage: Preparing to enter the front stage - is is where we are our true selves & let ourselves be nervous.

46
Q

What is the central idea of Feminist Theory?

A

Macro & Micro Social; looking at broader structures/patterns as well as specific interactions.

Governing question: what about women?

47
Q

What is gender oppression?

A

Systemic gender inequality perpetrated against women & girls.

48
Q

What are the main themes in Feminist Theory?

A

Lack of Autonomy: Independence & control by the individual - socially, legally, politically, economically. Moving away from women’s identities being defined through men.

Women’s Work: Household labour, paid vs. Unpaid work, importance of a woman’s role.

Women’s Standpoint/Perspective: A lens to look at the world - ideas about intersectionality.

Social Reform: Working against oppression - unifying theory & practice

49
Q

What is the central idea of Postmodernism?

A

An anti-theory position; rejects grand narratives.

It is a collection of ideas describing a post-modern world without thorough, rigid models. Views society as complex & ever-changing. No single mechanism of control - lots of flexibility in how we live.

50
Q

What is the patriarchy?

A

A system of male domination over women; a central force in women’s lives.

51
Q

Why is the media a critical concept in Postmodernism?

A

It feeds into how we see the world as a simulation - the following are evidence of media shaping our social context.

Simulacra: Images or representations that replace reality (ex. Photoshopped images as the only thing we see).

Hyperreality: A reality where images & simulations are so pervasive that they become reality, independent of any real existence or origins (i.e., being immersed on a world of simulacra).

52
Q

What is the role of consumption & consumerism in Postmodernism?

A

Pleasure-seeking & advertisements have taken over traditional values & rules that previously shaped these habits.

Consumerism keeps you from being left behind in a very individual world.

53
Q

What is the role of power & discourse in Postmodernism? What is the movement called?

A

Poststructuralism: Deconstructing existing hierarchies of knowledge to uncover the intersections of power & knowledge.

54
Q

Why is it important to be systematic in sociological research?

A

Prevents us from making assumptions & relying on anecdotes.

55
Q

What are the main issues with assuming we know about social worlds since we live in them?

A
  1. Our understanding is limited to our own worlds.
  2. It is unlikely that we have thought that critically about our lives.
  3. We are unable to identify patterns across many people’s lives.
56
Q

What is confirmation bias?

A

Paying more attention to details or information that supports your ideas.

57
Q

What are some ways to acquire knowledge?

A

Mass media, common sense, authority.

Also, science/research based approaches.

58
Q

What is data?

A

Information gathered in research & from which conclusions can be made.

59
Q

How do we test existing concepts & theories?

A

Collecting data.

60
Q

What are the steps in the research cycle?

A
  1. Articulate a research question.
  2. Review existing literature.
  3. Select a method.
  4. Obtain ethical approval.
  5. Collect data.
  6. Analyze data.
  7. Disseminate results.
61
Q

Does all research follow the exact cycle? Why/how?

A

No - sometimes research goes back a few steps or steps can happen concurrently.

62
Q

How to sociologists arrive at a research question?

A

Making observations in the world, coming across a topic in books/news/etc., conversations with others, other literature,

63
Q

Why is reviewing existing literature important?

A

Helps you gain additional depth of understanding about the topic. It checks if the research has already been conducted & sets the stage for the research question at hand.

64
Q

What is the inverted triangle of a literature review?

A

What do we already know -> What remains unknown or what are the limitations to what we know -> Your research question

65
Q

What are the two types of methods?

A

Quantitative: Use of numerical data.
Qualitative: Use of non-numerical data.

66
Q

What are the main differences between qualitative & quantitative studies? What are the purposes of each?

A

Qualitative: Smaller groups, more in-depth understanding, no data/numerical information. The goal is to look further into a group - it is not generalizable nor does it use specific variables.

Quantitative: Larger groups, broader patterns, use of data & numbers. The goal is to test hypotheses about 2+ variables to apply to populations.

67
Q

What is a mixed methods approach and why might it be used?

A

Using both quantitative & qualitative methods to explore a research question.

Often used to ask both the “what” and “why” of a topic.

Can be used to cross-check findings - a process called triangulation.

68
Q

What is the order of variables?

A

Independent -> dependent.

X -> Y

69
Q

What is the difference between correlation & causation?

A

Correlation is a relationship of two variables. Causation determines that one variable actively causes the other.

70
Q

What is a spurious relationship between variables?

A

When two variables appear to have a causal relationship, but really a third variable is the cause.

71
Q

What is reliability in an experiment?

A

The measure of a concept or phenomenon is consistent. I.e., if someone else did this experiment they would get the same results.

72
Q

What is validity in an experiment?

A

The measure of a concept or phenomenon accurately measures what it is supposed to.

73
Q

What are the four main methods used in sociology?

A

Surveys & questionnaires, official statistics, interviews & focus groups, field research.

74
Q

What are surveys & questionnaires? Why are they used?

A

They both ask questions & have the participant answer; surveys have the researchers ask out loud vs. Questionnaires where the participant reads them.

The data collected is primary data.

It is useful for exploring correlations among a wide variety of variables, however, the data is only as good as the questions.

75
Q

What are official statistics? Why might they be used?

A

Statistics collected by the government of Canada that gets compiled into datasets.

The data is secondary as it was collected by someone else.

Often used because the sample is quite large, making it more of a representative sample.

76
Q

What is a representative sample?

A

The sample used in an experiment that is designed to represent the population.

77
Q

What are interviews & focus groups? Why might they be used?

A

Qualitative methods to gather data in the form of words. The interviewer will guide the conversation to engage the person being interviewed. In focus groups, it is similar however the group converses while the researcher takes on more of a moderator role.

It is used to provide rich & detailed data about experiences, attitudes, and beliefs. Rather than collecting data for large-scale phenomena, they look to get detailed information.

78
Q

What is field research? Why might it be used?

A

A researcher immersing themselves in the field for long enough to obtain a detailed understanding of it.

The data is field notes & is in the words of the researcher.

79
Q

What is an experiment?

A

It is a controlled environment to test causal relationships. Consists of a control group & experimental group.

80
Q

What is random assignment? When & why is it used?

A

The assigning of research participants to either control or experimental through a completely random process.

It is used in experiments to ensure the findings are as reliable as possible & can therefore be generalized to the population.

81
Q

What are the types of sampling techniques?

A

Probability: Used with quantitative methods; everyone in the population has an equal likelihood of selection, as long as they are in the sampling frame (i.e., random sampling).

Non-Probability: Each unit is chosen on the basis of convenience, association, or purposefully on the basis of the topic at hand.

82
Q

What are research ethics?

A

Ethical principles that inform & guide research to protect research participants.

83
Q

How are research ethics made & enforced?

A

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

University-specific guidelines from research boards

84
Q

What are the main risks of research?

A

The likelihood of the participant experiencing any form of harm.

The use of deception.

85
Q

What is group vulnerability?

A

Any known or expected vulnerabilities associated with who is in a research sample.

Ex. Poor health, incarcerated individuals, undocumented immigrants, age ranges

86
Q

Why is anonymity & confidentiality?

A

Anonymity: There is no possible way the data or information can be traced back to the participants.

Confidentiality: The researchers are aware of identities, but it will never be shared.

87
Q

What is coding?

A

The process of categorizing data for analysis.

88
Q

How does data analysis work for quantitative vs. qualitative research?

A

Generally a linear process for quantitative as the numbers are in a dataset.

Less linear for qualitative - requires coding & identifications of patterns.

89
Q

How are research results disseminated?

A

Blog posts, personal websites, op-ed pieces, teaching, academic journals, academic conferences.

90
Q

What is Participatory Action Research?

A

Involving both sociologists & members of the community as a research team to investigate current issues.

91
Q

What is the impact of having community members involved in PAR?

A

The projects can be meaningful, relevant, & responsive to the needs of the population. In the end, more effective tools are developed.

92
Q

What is the overarching goal of PAR?

A

To improve the social world in an actionable fashion.

SOC100 (2 decks)

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