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Sociology final
N/A
51
Sociology
Undergraduate 2
12/08/2008

Additional Sociology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Hypothesis
Definition

A theoretical statement explaining the relationship between two or more phenomena

 

 

Ex: “Watching violence on television increases violent behavior in children.”
Term

Variables

Definition
 
factors that a researcher can test to see if his/her hypothesis is correct
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
Factors that are predicted to cause change
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
Factors that may be changed by the independent variable
Term
Four Methods of Research
Definition
Experiments, Surveys, Ethnograpies, and Interviews
Term
Experiments
Definition
Used to test theories
Term
Strengths of Experiments
Definition

1) Look at Human behavior in very specific circumstances

2) Control Situation

3) Reliability

Term
Weakness of Experiments
Definition

1) Expensive and time consuming

2) Provide Limited information

3) Not good for studying macro-level phenomena

Term
Surveys
Definition
The best tool for gaining information about large populations
Term
Strengths of Surveys
Definition

1) Reliable

2) Anonymous, preserves confidentiality

3) Can examine micro or macro level data

4) Inexpensive

5) Results can be generalized to a larger population

 

Term
Weaknesses of surveys
Definition

1) Need to poll the right people

2) Need to ask the right questions

3) no room for elaboration by participants

Term
Plan of Action for a sociologist
Definition

1st: Literature Review

2nd: Form Hypothesis

3rd: Choose Variables

4th: Choose Research method

Term
Quantitative
Definition

Numerical

(How Often, How Many, Percentages, Statistical Analysis)

 

Used in Surveys and Experiments

Term
Qualitative
Definition

interviews, observations, photographs etc.

 

Used in Interviews and Ethnographies

Term
Literature Review
Definition

Journals/ Articles that provide information to support your study and help form your hypothesis

Term
Milgram Study
Definition
Term
Gender Status Beliefs
Definition
 
widely held cultural beliefs that evaluate one sex as generally more competent than the other
Term

How do Gender Status Beliefs increase inequality?

Definition

1) Cause both sexes to expect men to be more competent than women on a task [resulting in higher status for men]

 

2) Allocation of more rewards for men, because they have higher status 

Term
Gender Segregation
Definition
 
Women primarily work in certain fields
Term
Comparable Worth
Definition
 
Jobs that are traditionally “female” pay less than jobs that are traditionally “male”
Term
Wage Inequality
Definition
 
When women do work in “male jobs” they often earn less than men, even with the same amount of education, training, and skills. 
Term

Lower Earnings

Definition
 
Women are more likely than men to work part time jobs, which reduces women’s overall earnings.
Term
Social Factors that Affect the Gender Gap
Definition
Gender Segregation, Comparable Worth, Wage Inequality, and Lower Earnings
Term
Statistical Discrimination
Definition
 
Using a group’s average to estimate characteristics of  individuals who are members of the group results in mistaken predictions about individuals who are qualified in a way unusual for their sex”.
Ex.  Employers use statistics to help them make decisions about who will have the lowest turnover rate, the highestproductivity, or the most dedication to the job
Term
Taste for Discrimination
Definition
 
Employers, workers, or customers may have a taste for discrimination.  Such a taste refers to a preference in favor or against hiring, working with, or buying from a group such as women”
Term
Social Closure theories
Definition
 
Individuals who belong to a group that already receives societal benefits (that is, whites) and who perceive an economic threat, such as competition from another group (that is, blacks) will develop negative attitudes toward that group.
 Ex.  White men who are in powerful positions benefit from status hierarchies that privilege them over women and people of color.
 Ex. White men use negative stereotypes to justify having more status and power than women and people of color.
Term
How does language reinforce gender inequality?
Definition

The language we use reinforces gender inequality.

 

Metaphors used by scientists to talk about the egg and the sperm rely on stereotypes about males andfemales, and reproduce gender inequality

 

 

Term
What challeneges do women face in the labor market?
Definition

Women are less likely to be hired when they have children because women remain the primary caretakers of children and the household.

 

Women are faced with wage inequality causing lower earnings

Term
SES
Definition

(Social Educational Success)

Parental education and Family Income

Term
Tracking
Definition

(Vocational, General, AP)

 

Different tracks that students are placed on to determine academic ability

Term
Measures of Educational Inequality
Definition

1) Achievement

2) Graduation/ Drop Out Rate

3) College Completion

Term
Achievement
Definition

Measured by Test Scores and Grades

Term
What school and non-school factors affect educational achievement?
Definition

School factors: School Quality, Teacher Quality, Tracking

 

Non School Factors: Peer Group/Aspiration Factors, Home Backround(Parental education and income)

Term
How do test scores, high school drop out rates, and college completion rates illustrate racial inequality in the U.S.?
Definition
School factors such as quality of school and teacher and tracking along with non school factors such as parent educational background and family income affect different racial groups causing racial inequality.
Term
Why is it so important to focus on racial inequality in the education system?
Definition

To narrow the racial educational gap

Term

Where (in the educational system) do we see the greatest disparities in achievement?

Definition
The Greatest disparities are seen at the highest levels
Term
Stratification
Definition

Members of a given society are categorized and divided into groups, then ranked in a social hierarchy

 

Members may be grouped according to their gender, race, class, age, or other characteristics, depending on the criteria important to a given society.

Term

What are the four principles of social stratification

Definition
  1) Stratification is maintained though beliefs that are widely shared by members of a given society
¨ 
2) Stratification is a societal-level characteristic, not a reflection of individual difference
¨ 
3) Social stratification is passed down through generations
¨ 
4)All societies are stratified; but societies use various criteria for ranking people.
Term
Social Mobility
Definition
the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchal system of social classes
Term
Why is it difficult to define class?
Definition
Because it does not adress other social factors and it does not give individuals agency.
Term
Upper Class
Definition

1% of population

Elites who have gained membership in various ways

Earnings: 250,000

Highly educated

Financially stable

Seek positions of power and status

Will most likely stay in this social class throughout their lives.

Term
Upper Middle-Class
Definition

14% of population

Highly skilled, well educated, college, or graduate degrees

Members work in primarily executive level positions

89,000-150,000

Financially Stable

Term
Middle Class
Definition

30% of population

Skilled labor / low-managerial work

high school education 2-4 yr college degree

some Financial stability

Term
Working (lower-middle) class
Definition

30% of population

high school education

manual labor jobs or service industry

23,000-54,000

Less financial stability; difficulty buying home

Term

Working Poor and Underclass

Definition

20% Population

High school education or less

unskilled, temporary and seasonal jobs

10,500-22,000

High rates of unemployment

Term
Underclass
Definition

Individuals who are most disadvantaged in our society

Officially impoverished by gov. standards

less than 7500 yr

Difficulty supporting basic needs

hold study jobs

Live in inner cities

Substandard housing/ homelessness

 

Term
Culture of Poverty Theory
Definition
Poverty is unavoidable;individuals accept their fate rather than trying to improve their lot
 Theory blames the victims of poverty for their own misfortunes while overlooking social conditions.
Term
Cultural Capital
Definition
The general cultural background, knowledge,disposition, and skills that are passed from one generation to the next.
Term
Culture of Poverty Theory S&W
Definition

Strengths: Addresses how poverty affects aspiration

 

Weaknesses: Theory blames individuals for their own misfortune.

Term
Economic Determinism
Definition

Strengths: Acknowledges the role of schools in limiting social mobility

 

Weakness: Doesn't address other social factors: doesnt give individuals agency

Term
Agents of Socialization
Definition

1) Family

2) Peers

3) School

4) Media

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