Chapter 1: Vocabulary

Question 1

sociology:

Answer 1

systematic study of human society and social interaction.

Question 2

why is sociology systemic?

Answer 2

bc sociologists apply theoretical and research ideas to examinations of social behavior

Question 3

why do sociologists study human societies?

Answer 3

to develop theories of how human behavior is shaped by group life and how group life is affected by individuals

Question 4

what is meant by the sociological imagination?

Answer 4

ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society (Mills, 1959)

Question 5

describe the historical context in which sociological thinking developed:

Answer 5

brought about by industrialization and urbanization

Question 6

identify reasons why many early social thinkers were concerned with social change:

Answer 6

“stability or change?”

Question 7

functionalist:

Answer 7

based on assumption that society is a stable, orderly system

Question 8

Manifest functions:

Answer 8

intended and/or overtly recognized by the participants in a social unit

Question 9

Latent functions:

Answer 9

not intended functions; hidden by participants

Question 10

Dysfunctions:

Answer 10

undesirable consequences of any element of a society

Question 11

Conflict perspectives:

Answer 11

groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources
(politics, litigation, negotiations, family discussions about financial matters)

Question 12

macrolevel analysis:

Answer 12

examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, social systems instead of looking at important social dynamics in individuals’ lives

Question 13

symbolic interactionism:

Answer 13

examines day-to-day interactions of people and their behavior in groups

Question 14

microlevel analysis:

Answer 14

focuses on small groups (symbolic interactionism)

Question 15

according to symbolic interactionism perspectives:

Answer 15

society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups

Question 16

according to postmodern perspectives:

Answer 16

existing theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by post-industrialization, consumerism, and global communications

Question 17

why is sociological research necessary?

Answer 17

and how it challenges our commonsense believes about pressing social issues (suicide):

to question ordinary assumptions and to use specific research methods to find out more about the social world

Question 18

Difference between qualitative and quantitative research?

Answer 18

qualitative is not so accurate, does not use numbers.

quantitative uses numbers to show better results

Question 19

Give steps in Deductive Research Method(classic):

Answer 19

0. find a problem
1. review literature
2. form hypothesis
3. develop research design
4. collect/analyze data
5. conclude, report findings

Question 20

Give steps in Inductive Research Method (inclusive):

Answer 20

0. find a problem
1. review literature + develop research design
2. develop research design + collect/analyze data
3. collect/analyze data + review literature
4. generate hypotheses for theory construction/draw conclusions and report findings

Question 21

Qualitative Research Model:

Answer 21

more likely to be used when the question does not easily lend itself to numbers and statistical methods.

Question 22

Research methods:

Answer 22

specific strategies/techniques for systematically conducting research

1. survey research
2. secondary analysis of existing data
3. field research
4. experiments

Question 23

types of surveys:

Answer 23

1. questionnaire

2. interview

Question 24

questionnaire:

Answer 24

printed research containing a series of items to which subjects respond. often “agree” or “disagree” statements

Question 25

interview:

Answer 25

data-collection encounter where interview asks someone questions and records the answers

Question 26

secondary analysis of existing data:

Answer 26

researchers use existing material and analyze data that were originally collected by others

Question 27

secondary analysis includes Content Analysis which is:

Answer 27

the systematic examination of cultural artifacts or various forms of communication to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about social life

Question 28

field research:

Answer 28

study of social life in its natural setting: observing and interviewing people where they live, work, and play

Question 29

participant observation:

Answer 29

process of collecting systematic observations while being part of the activities of the group that the researcher is studying

Question 30

ethnography:

Answer 30

detailed study of the life and activities of a group of people by researchers who may live with that group over a period of years

Question 31

experiment:

Answer 31

carefully designed situation in which the researcher studies the impact of certain variables on subjects’ attitudes or behavior

Question 32

experimental group:

Answer 32

contains the subjects who are exposed to an independent variable to study its effect on them

Question 33

control group:

Answer 33

contains the subjects who are not exposed to the independent variable

Question 34

correlation:

Answer 34

exists when two variables are associated more frequently than could be expected by chance

Question 35

3 conditions to satisfy a cause-effect relationship:

Answer 35

1. a correlation must be shown to exist
2. the independent variable must have occurred prior to the dependent variable
3. any change to the dependent variable must NOT have been caused by an outside variable

Question 36

4 American Sociological Association (ASA) Code of Ethics 2008/1999:

Answer 36

1. maintain objectivity and integrity in their research; disclose their findings in full, including possible interpretations of the data
2. must safeguard the participants’ right to privacy and dignity while protecting them from harm
3. must protect confidential info always
4. must acknowledge research collaboration and assistance received from others; disclose all sources of financial support

Question 37

anomie:

Answer 37

Durkheim.

condition in which social control becomes ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and of a sense of purpose in society

Question 38

social Darwinism:

Answer 38

Herbert Spencer.

best adapted survive and prosper, the poorly adapted die out