Chapter 1 - Perspective, Theory, & Methodology Flashcards Preview

Intro to Sociology > Chapter 1 - Perspective, Theory, & Methodology > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 1 - Perspective, Theory, & Methodology Deck (59)
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1
Q

What is sociology?

A

Systematic study of human society

2
Q

What are sociology’s points of view?

A

1) seeing the general in the particular - (general social patterns in behaviour of particular individuals)
2) seeing the strange in the familiar (society shapes our lives)
3) seeing individuality within a social context

3
Q

What are benefits of a sociological perspective?

A

1) helps us understand common sense
2) helps us see opportunities and constraints in our lives (assess world around us)
3) empowers us to work with new knowledge and provides a language for us to discuss what’s around us
4) helps us live in a diverse world (see outside ourselves or our nation)

4
Q

What 3 areas of society did sociology emerge across during the Industrial and French Revolutions?

A

1) social change
2) science
3) marginalized voices

5
Q

Who is considered the “Father of Sociology”?

A

August Comte

6
Q

What were some of August Comte’s beliefs?

A

Knowledge developed through sociology would help people gain power over social change

7
Q

What were August Comte’s stages?

A

Theological, Metaphysical and Scientific

8
Q

What is positivism?

A

Way of understanding based on science (repeated until you’ve proven it, you’re positive)
Positivism is early science

9
Q

What was Emile Durkheim’s view of society?

A

Totality of different, interrelated parts, and each part performs functions that support the whole

10
Q

What is Anomy?

A

Disconnected individuals living in uncertainty with no shared moral compass

11
Q

What was Marx’s approach to society?

A

Society is determined by its economic system. He identified unequal division between capitalist class and proletariat. He inspired anti-capitalist movement.

12
Q

What was Max Weber’s perspective of society?

A

Society is shaped by political, social, and cultural factors, not only the economic system. (More religious - God made some rich and some poor)

13
Q

What is rationality?

A

Use of reason and logic to achieve a goal as efficiently as possible

14
Q

What is formal rationality?

A

It emphasizes calculation and efficiency

15
Q

What is McDonalization?

A

Modern, global expansion of principles of formal rationality (Americanization)

16
Q

What is structural functionalism?

A

Theoretical paradigm that emphasizes the way each part of a society functions to fulfill the needs of society as a whole

17
Q

What is the difference between manifest and latent functions?

A

Manifest function - intended outcome

Latent function - unintended outcome

18
Q

What is social constructionism?

A

Sociological theory that argues that social problems and issues are less objective conditions than they are collective social definitions based on how they’re framed and interpreted

19
Q

What is Microsociology?

A
  • Derived from Weber’s social theory.
  • Focuses on individuals and small groups.
  • Considers how social life is constituted through everyday interactions and communication
20
Q

What is symbolic interactionism?

A

Emphasizes that we base our actions on how we think others perceive us

21
Q

What is microsociology’s view of society?

A

Shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another and it is dynamic

22
Q

What is the social conflict theory?

A
  • derived from Karl Marx’s social theory
  • Views society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social change
  • society is structured in a way to benefit a few at the expense of the majority
23
Q

Feminism

A

Key perspective within conflict theory

24
Q

Name 2 branches of second-wave feminism and their views

A

Liberal feminism - sought to achieve equality with men within existing social stuctures
Radial feminism - identified patriarchy - system of male power - as source of inequality

25
Q

What is the third wave of feminism?

A
  • Critiques second-wave feminism for overlooking differences among women
  • concerned with matrix of domination (inequality shaped by gender, race, class, sexuality, etc)
  • intersecting forms of oppression need to be challenged simultaneously
26
Q

What is post-modernism?

A

Questions ideas of a single reality or truth

Leads to relativism

27
Q

What is post-structuralism?

A

Emerged along with disillusionment with conflict theory and lack of social change and was influenced by post-modernism

  • emphasis on cultural diversity and the role of media
  • denies notion of unitary self - identities are multiple, fluid, fragmented
28
Q

What is a theoretical paradigm?

A

Set of fundamental assumptions that guides thinking

29
Q

What are theories?

A

Abstract ideas about the world

Offer explanations of aspects of social life

30
Q

What is operationalization?

A

Process of translating theories and concepts into hypotheses and variables

31
Q

What is a hypotheses?

A

Explanation for how variables are related to one another

32
Q

What are variables?

A

Observable elements equivalent to a concept

33
Q

What are Independent and Dependent variables?

A

Independent - causes (independently test each one)

Dependent - effects (depends on the results)

34
Q

What is the primary research method?

A

Experiment

35
Q

What is quasi-experimental research?

A

Observes naturally-occurring phenomenon (no manipulation)

Controlled environment constructed after data is gathered

36
Q

What is the most popular research method, especially used to study large populations?

A

Surveys

37
Q

What are goals of survey research?

A

1) Describe characteristics of study group
2) test theories about the group
3) generalize results to a broader population

38
Q

What is a sample?

A

Population in a study

39
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Each person in a population has an equal chance to be selected for the study (represent each subgroup in a population for most accurate results)

40
Q

What are procedures for random sampling?

A

Simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling

41
Q

What is the goal of field research?

A

Collect rich, nuanced data by observing and interviewing people in the field
Requires that researchers gain an understanding of the lives of research subjects “from the inside” in order to grasp their worldview

42
Q

What is ethnographic or participant observation research?

A

Emersion in the daily lives of participants, usually for extended period of time

43
Q

What are in-depth interviews?

A

Popular method involving extensive interviews with participants. Interviews are recorded and later transcribed and may be highly structured or unstructured (more like a conversation). Everyone is asked the same questions

44
Q

What is the purpose of documentation?

A

Analyzed to develop understanding of study group

45
Q

What is the purpose of conducting research with existing data?

A

Looking at what else the data may tell

46
Q

What is secondary data analysis?

A

Analysis of official statistics and existing surveys. There is an advantage because the survey work is already done but disadvantage because the data set may not address the researcher’s questions

47
Q

What is historical research?

A

Historical sociology draws on historical documents in the research process. Limited by kinds of data recorded and made available

48
Q

What is content analysis?

A

Applied to documents to reveal patterns. Requires careful sampling and analysis procedures

49
Q

What is the Androcentricity vs. Gynocentricity?

A

Approaching the topic from a male-only perspective vs. female-only perspective

50
Q

What is overgeneralizing?

A

Using data collected from one sex and applying the findings to both sexes

51
Q

What is gender blindness?

A

Failure to consider impact of gender at all

52
Q

What are double standards?

A

Using different standards to judge males and females (inequality)

53
Q

What is interference?

A

A subject under study reacts to the sex of the researcher

54
Q

What is a correlation?

A

Relationship by which two or more variables change together

55
Q

Making use of the sociological perspective encourages:

A

Challenging commonly held beliefs

56
Q

Sociologists try to:

A

Analyze and predict human behaviour

57
Q

Which sets of societies did sociology arise in?

A

France, Germany, and England

58
Q

Where was the sociological perspective developed?

A

Areas where greatest changes were taking place

59
Q

What is the term for a basic image of society that guides thinking and research?

A

Theory