Sociological Theories

Question 1

Name some Structural Theories

Answer 1

Functionalism (consensus/order)

Marxism (conflict on class)

Feminism (conflict on gender)

Question 2

What type of methods would be used for structural theories?

Answer 2

Quantitative date 
High in reliability 
Closed questionnaires 
Structured interviews 
Non-participant observations
Official statistics

Question 3

Name some Social Action Theories

Answer 3

Weberian

Interaction Theory

Symbolic Interaction

Question 4

What type of methods would be used for Social Action Theories?

Answer 4

Qualitative data
High in validity
Open questionnaires
Unstructured interviews
Participant observations

Question 5

What is a theory?

Answer 5

Framework of ideas used by sociologists to organise their data to understand society in a systematic way

Question 6

What is a macro perspective?

Answer 6

Focus on understanding society as a whole and the relationships between parts of it

Question 7

What is a micro perspective?

Answer 7

Focus on looking in detail at individuals and small groups and how they interact with society

Question 8

What is consensus?

Answer 8

Society is based on shared/agreed values

Question 9

What is a conflict theory?

Answer 9

That society is based on inequality

Question 10

What is a structural theory?

Answer 10

They see society as a structure that influences individuals

Question 11

What is a Social Action theory?

Answer 11

They understand meanings individual give to their actions

Question 12

What is feudalism?

Answer 12

Dominant social system in medical Europe, nobles held lands for the Crown, made peasants work to stay on their land

Question 13

What was the industrial revolution?

Answer 13

Moment in history that stopped feudalism and allowed capitalism to take over

Question 14

What is modernity?

Answer 14

The moment in history when traditional ways of thinking are questioned, rise of technology/mass production of goods

Question 15

What is post modernity?

Answer 15

Present time, moving into many directions of thinking. One direction is no longer relevant

Question 16

What is a positivist?

Answer 16

They use methods of natural sciences to create a method

Question 17

What is an interpretivist?

Answer 17

They use Meanings/interpretations of individuals and groups that develop

Question 18

What is verstehen?

Answer 18

Empathetic understanding of human behaviour

Question 19

Infrastructure

Answer 19

Economic base

Question 20

Superstructure

Answer 20

Institutions/agents of society

Question 21

Means of production

Answer 21

Land
Machinery
Factories

Question 22

Bourgeoisie

Answer 22

Ruling class

Question 23

Proletariat

Answer 23

Working class

Question 24

Alienation

Answer 24

Marginalised
Isolated
Powerless

Question 25

Objectification

Answer 25

Don’t feel connected to the work they do

Question 26

False class consciousness

Answer 26

Prevents people from seeing the reality that the ruling class exploit the working class

Question 27

Consensus theory

Answer 27

Theories hat see society based on shared values

Question 28

Division of Labour

Answer 28

Different skills, characterised by social skills

Question 29

Legitimacy of stratification

Answer 29

Appear fair or justified rewards based on level of occupation

Question 30

Value consensus

Answer 30

All agree on the same values of society

Question 31

Ascription

Answer 31

Roles allocated based on inherited characteristics like gender and ethnicity

Question 32

Meritocracy

Answer 32

Society where occupational skills are equal to rewards

Question 33

Why is competition necessary?

Answer 33

Makes people work harder and so earn the higher rewards