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Ch. 1-3

Terms in this set (39)

Sociology
The study of human social relationships, groups, and societies; helps us understand human behavior, social relations, and institutions
Critical Thinking
The ability to evaluate claims about truth by using reason and evidence
Sociological Imagination
The relationship between individual lives and larger social forces that shape them
Agency
The ability to exercise free will and make social change on a small or large scale
Structure
Patterned social arrangements that enable or constrain agency
Power Elite
Small group of wealthy businessmen, military leaders, and politicians make key decisions for the country in their own interests
Sociological Theories
Logical frameworks for the interpretation of social life
Macro Level
Large scale patterns and institutions
Micro Level
Social relations and interactions in specific, individual situations
Functionalist Perspective
Sociological theory that explains social organization and change in terms of the functions performed by different social structures and institutions (HOW THE BODY REACTS)
Social Conflict Theory
Sociological theory that explains social organization and change in terms of the conflict built into social relationships (WHO BENEFITS? POWER)
Symbolic Interactionism
Sociological theory; individual and society are a result of social interactions based on language and other behaviors; we develop through interaction with others (HOW DO WE DEFINE THE SITUATION?)
Hypotheses
Ideas about the world which can be disproved when tested against observations
Research Methods
Specific techniques for systematically gathering data; ex: survey research, fieldwork, experimentation, usage of existing data, and participatory research
Quantitative Research
Gathers data that can be quantified; offers insight into patterns of social behavior; large scale surveys and sample sizes
Qualitative Research
Uses data that cannot be quantified; in depth knowledge of social life; focus groups, observation, and interviews; small sample sizes
Objectivity
Ability to represent the object of study accurately
Value-Neutrality
Researcher's personal beliefs do not interfere
Common Wisdom
Widely held beliefs or perceptions that people repeat are often inaccurate and unsupported by sociological research
Culture
Beliefs, norms, behaviors, and products common to the members of a particular group
Material Culture
Physical objects created, embraces, or consumed that shape people's lives
Nonmaterial Culture
Abstract creations of human cultures, including ideas about behavior and living
Beliefs
Particular ideas that people accept as true
Values
General standards in society that define ideal principles, like those governing right and wrong; source of cohesion or conflict
Subculture
Culture that exists within a dominant culture but differs from it in some way
Ethnic Subculture
Embrace values and norms of dominant culture, while practicing values, rituals, and languages of native country
Counterculture
Subcultural group whose norms, values, and practices deviate from those of the dominant culture
Norms
Common rules of a culture that govern the behavior of people belonging to it; the "oughts" and "ought nots" that guide behavioral choices (4 TYPES)
Folkways
Fairly weak norms that are passed down; violation not considered serious
Mores
Strongly held norms; violation seriously offends standards of acceptable conduct; closely related to values
Taboos
Powerful mores, violation is considered serious and even unthinkable
Laws
Codified norms or rules of behavior that formalize and institutionalize society's norms
Ideal Culture
The values, norms, and behaviors that people in a given society profess to embrace
Real Culture
The values, norms, and behaviors that people in a given society actually embrace and exhibit
Ethnocentrism
Worldview whereby we judge other cultures by the standards of our own; perceive own culture as "natural" or "just the way things are"
Cultural Relativism
Worldview whereby we understand the practices of another society sociologically, in terms or that society's own norms and values and not our own
High Culture
Music, theater, literature, etc. held in high esteem in society
Popular Culture
Entertainment, culinary, and athletic tastes shared by the masses
Mass Media
Medium of public communication intended to reach and influence a mass audience
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