Sociology 100

Question 1

Sociology

Answer 1

the scientific study of social behavior and the behaviors of human groups

Question 2

Microsociology

Answer 2

examining/investigating aspects of society that occur on a small scale; interactions between individuals and small groups

Question 3

Mesosociology

Answer 3

considered an “intermediate” examination of society; studying/focusing on formal organizations and social movements

Question 4

Macrosociology

Answer 4

examing society in its broader concepts/constructs; looking into large-scale movements/patterns of behavior and processes that characterize a whole society

Question 5

Applied sociology

Answer 5

the use of sociology in the “real” world - taking sociological theory and applying it to situations, behaviors, groups and organizations throughout society

Question 6

Social interaction

Answer 6

a process in which people take into account; the process of engaging with other individuals and/or groups

Question 7

Alienation

Answer 7

the feeling of separation from one’s group or society

(Marx believed that capitalism was a primary contributor to this feeling that he believed existed in all social classes)

Question 8

Social solidarity

Answer 8

refers to the social cohesiveness or harmony of a particular society - the greater the solidarity, the overall healthier the society

Question 9

Social facts

Answer 9

Durkheim’s term for aspects of social life, that were apart or external to the individual, and that could in some way be measured

Question 10

The sociological imagination

Answer 10

the ability to see the relationship between the individual and larger social forces/the larger society, both today and in the past

Question 11

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 11

a micro-level approach that focuses on the use of symbols in everyday life; the meanings that are attached to those symbols and how they can shape human interaction and the way we communicate

ex: $$$= money/cost of

Question 12

Conflict Theory

Answer 12

a macro/meso approach that examines society as being made up of two or more social groups who are in competition, conflict and tension over limited social resources; as a result, society is based on numerous social inequalities typically based on race, gender/sex, social status, educational achievement, etc

Question 13

Functionalism

Answer 13

a functionalist sees society as a series of inter-related parts - these parts/structures/functions work to maintain society’s stablity, cohesion and continuity/advancement

ex: government, family, economy, religious organizations, educational systems

Question 14

Manifest function

Answer 14

purposes and activities of a group/organization that are intended and recognized.

ex: Government providing a police force to maintain public safety

Question 15

Latent function

Answer 15

purpose/activity that is unintended

ex: Price of groceries is lower because merchants spend less $$ on security because the crime rate is so low

Question 16

Feminist theory

Answer 16

is an approach that focuses primarily on the female perspective of society; it can be both a micro and macro approach as it examines the social inequality that exists as a result of concepts of gender and sex

ex: gender/sex inequality, changing dynamics between men and women in the workplace, in the home, schools, media, etc

Question 17

Scientific Method

Answer 17

the objective and systematic techniques used to study different phenomena, to acquire knowledge and for testing

Question 18

Hypothesis

Answer 18

a statement about the expected relationship between two or more variables

Question 19

Reliability

Answer 19

refers to the consistency with which the same measure/exercise produces similar results time after time

Question 20

Validity

Answer 20

the degree that a measure is accurate and actually measures what it claims to measure

Question 21

Causation

Answer 21

a relationship where one variable is the direct consequence of another

Question 22

Dependent Variable

Answer 22

an outcome that may be affected by the independent variable

Question 23

Independent Variable

Answer 23

a trait or characteristic that has an effect on the dependent variable

Question 24

Control Variable

Answer 24

a trait/characteristic that is unchanged throughout the research process

Question 25

Qualitative research

Answer 25

research that examines non-numerical material and interprets it

Question 26

Quantitative Research

Answer 26

research that focuses on the numerical analysis of people’s responses and/or characteristics

Question 27

Sample

Answer 27

a group of things (or people) that is representative of what you are trying to study

Question 28

Steps of a Research Project

Answer 28

Step 1 - Choose a topic - what are you going to study

Step 2 - Literature review - a review and summarization of the previous research that has been done on the topic you chose

Step 3 - Formulate a hypothesis/asks a research question - what specifically are you going to study? What are you trying to prove/disprove?

Step 4 - Describe your data and data collection methods - what ways are you going to use to gather data to support your hypothesis (ex. survey)

Step 5 - Data collection

Step 6 - Analyze your data - does your data support/refute your hypothesis?

Step 7 - Summarize your findings

Step 8 - Present your findings // Public your work

Question 29

Interactionist

Answer 29

*Cultural symbols help to create and maintain cultural identities – as cultural values change so to does the symbols and the meanings attached to them

*A function of culture helps people interact in a society, and despite their differences most people can co-exist and even prosper in their respective culture

*As new values, technology and norms are developed, language also changes to reflect these changes

(a micro-sociological approach)

Question 30

Functionalist

Answer 30

*A culture that has similar values and beliefs can help bring people together and work toward greater social stability

*By sharing core values, a society can be more unified and create greater social solidarity

*Example – speaking “American English” in the U.S. allows for the free flow of ideas/discussion and allows for greater forms of expression and communication

*Example of dysfunction – limiting a culture/society to one language limits who can communicate and often slows down the transmission of ideas and feelings

(a macro sociological approach)

Question 31

Socialization

Answer 31

refers to the lifelong process through which people learn their culture and how to become functioning members of a society

Question 32

There are several characteristics of socialization

Answer 32

1) socialization helps establish our social identity – answer(s) to the question “who am I ?”

• college student/parent/sibling/employee/female/male/criminal/politician

2) Socialization controls our behavior – we are taught our cultural values and acceptable forms of behavior – we learn about +/- consequences/sanctions for “good” behavior and “bad” behavior

3) Socialization teaches us “role-taking” – we learn to act differently in different situations – hanging out with friends, with family, at work, in school, etc

4) Socialization helps passing culture from one generation to the next

Question 33

Internalization

Answer 33

the process of learning cultural behaviors and expectations so deeply that we typically accept them without question

Question 34

Role

Answer 34

behavior(s) associated with a particular status

Question 35

Role models

Answer 35

people we admire and whose behaviors we generally try to imitate

Question 36

Role taking

Answer 36

learning to take on the perspective of other people

Question 37

Significant other

Answer 37

someone whose opinions we value and who can influence our thinking (especially about ourselves)

Question 38

Generalized other

Answer 38

the norms, values and behaviors of society that affect how a person behaves (think of society as a person)

Question 39

Reference groups

Answer 39

groups of people who shape someone’s values, behaviors and beliefs

Question 40

Nature

Answer 40

relating to innate biological factors

Question 41

Nuture

Answer 41

refers to the upbringing or life experience more generally

Question 42

Cooley’s Looking Glass Self

Answer 42

1.) We imagine how we appear to those around us.
(we may believe others see us as witty or dull)

2.) We interpret others’ reactions.
(we come to a conclusion of how others evaluate us - do they like us?)

3.) We develop a self-concept.
(how we interpret others reactions to us frames our feelings and images of ourselves)

Question 43

Mead And The Self

Answer 43

Three Stages:

Preparatory stage- The first stage is the preparatory stage. The preparatory stage lasts from the time we are born until we are about two. In this stage, children mimic those around them.

Play stage- From about two to six, children are in the play stage. During this stage, children play pretend as the significant other.

Game stage- from about age seven onwards. In this stage, children can begin to understand and adhere to the rules; they begin to understand other people’s perspective of the generalized other.

*The generalized other refers to the viewpoint of the social group at large. The child begins taking this perspective into account during this stage.