Term
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Definition
The systematic and objective study of human society and social interaction. Sociological approach is scientific, not based on heresay or beliefs.
Debunking taken-for-granted experiences with scientific evidence, revealing unexpected insights. |
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Term
| Durkheim's study on suicide |
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Definition
reasons: 1. Biological- biochemical imbalance 2. Biographical- cos' of terms of sequece leading up to it 3. Psychological- revenge, depression, mental state/personality of person
Altruistic suicide: putting welfare of others before self eg Kamikaze pilots |
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Term
| Sociology and Social Sciences |
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Definition
-Economics: use of production of goods and services
-Political science: govt. and use of political power
-Psychology: scientific study of human behavior and mind
-Anthop.: human evol. and culture |
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Term
| Classic figures in history of Sociology |
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Definition
Auguste Comte: 'founder' of soc., prev. called it 'positive philosophy'
Herbert Spencer: society is a self-regulating system. Functionalist.
Karl Marx: Conflict school of soc.
Emile Durkheim: viewed society with Gestalt's theory ie whole greater than sum of its parts
Max Weber: Value-free soc., study of socialization. Verstehen: sympathetic understanding |
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Term
| (a)Parson's general theory of action and (b)Merton's middle-range theories |
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Definition
(a) a framework of concepts that cld be used to analyse all types of social phenomena from major institutions to indiv. actions
(b) focus on single aspect of social life to explain wide range of social factors; middle road between specialised and general theories |
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Term
| 3 Theoretical perspectives/Paradigms |
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Definition
1. Functionalist (structural): the way in which each part of society contributes to the whole, for social stability.
2. Conflict: struggle over limited sources, power amd prestige as permanent aspect of social change in society
3. Interactionist: how pple interact with each other everyday and make sense of the interaction |
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Term
| Functional Perspective: Background and terms |
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Definition
-also known as structural functionalism
-roots in Spencer, Comte and Durkheim
-Manifest (intended/recognized) functions result e.g educated pupils from purpose of schooling
-Latent (unintended/unrecognized) functions result e.g bullying/gang formation in peer groups in school
-Dysfunctional unit: prevents society from meeting needs |
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Term
| Conflict Perspective: Background and terms |
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Definition
-Marx stated that 'every society has seeds of its own destruction'
-stress on dynamic, ever changing nature of society
-society is a fragile balance |
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Term
| Compare Functionalism and Conflict Theories |
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Definition
Difference: Structuralists study the integration and interrelation of grps, Conflict theorists study the differenced in interests and conflicts btwn grps.
Similarities:
1. both looking at macro level of society (macrosociology)
2. both approach with structuralist view: (a) social structure as social facts that control and are external to individuals (b) indiv. behavior is product of social structure, not vice versa |
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Term
| Interactionist perspective: background and terms |
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Definition
-founded by George Herbert Mead
-Microsociologists: study indivs. and small grps, not large scale structures like sturcturalists
-believe tt people have freedom of action
-thus society/community is constantly evolving/changing doe to interactions between participants
-social structure is not the controlling force |
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Term
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Definition
1. Basic research: pursuit of knowledge for its own sake
2. Applied research: to provide answers and solutions to practical and real-world problems |
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Term
| 5 Types of Applied Research |
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Definition
1. Evaluation research: assessing if a program met goals/was effective e.g. Sesame Street
2. Social Experiment: conducted before program begins, measuring success e.g. HUD and subsidies
3. Policy Oriented Social investigation: to provide orgs and govts with info on effectiveness/problems with policies e.g. Florida laws, educational segregation
4. Social prediction: predicting outcomes of experiment with practical skills and methods e.g. pollsters predict presidential election outcomes
5. Social Monitoring and Description: accurate descriptions of way the world is- used as social indicators e.g. Campbell data on rship. btwn. well-being and economic income |
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Term
| Other applications of Sociology |
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Definition
1. Policy consulting: involvement of sociologists in policy making for the govt.
2. Social Criticism: analyses and reports by sociologists on their views on social policy
3. Clinical sociology: active intervention in social situations to change for the better |
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Term
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Definition
1. Career Prep: technical, social and organizational skills
2. Everday decision making: applying concpets of sociology to life
3. Understanding yourself: 'locating ourselves', and devpg our 'sociological imagination' |
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