Defining Concepts Flashcards
acculturation
The process of contacts between different cultures and also the outcome of such contacts. Acculturation occurs when members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviours of another group. It may involve direct social interaction or exposure to other cultures through mass media
agent of socialisation
A person or institution that shapes an individual’s social development.
authority
Linked to power and the right to make decisions and to determine, adjudicate or settle issues and disputes in society. Authority is best understood as the legitimate use of power. The use of authority is important in the process of decision-making and in initiating change and maintaining continuity.
belief system
A system in which members of the group share a commitment to a set of beliefs and values that systematically defines a way of perceiving the social, cultural, physical and psychological world. Belief systems can be categorised as religious and non-religious. Both have rituals, symbols, stories, traditions and customs.
beliefs
A set of opinions or convictions; ideas we believe in as the truth. Beliefs can come from one’s own experience and reflection, or from what one is told by others.
change
In sociology, “change” refers to the social or cultural elements of a society changing over time. This can occur at any level – micro, meso, or macro – and is often brought about by new circumstances a society is responding to, whether internal or external in origin.
conflict
A perceived incompatibility of goals or actions. Conflict can occur at all levels in society and its resolution can involve modification to what was previously in place.
content analysis
Used to investigate and interpret the content of the mass media and historical documents in order to discover how particular issues are (or were) presented. At its most basic, content analysis is a statistical exercise that involves counting, categorising and interpreting words and images from documents, film, art, music and other cultural products and media in relation to an aspect or quality of social life. When used as a qualitative method, content analysis helps the researcher to understand social life through analysis and interpretation of words and images from documents, film, art, music and other cultural artefacts and media.
continuity
The persistence or consistent existence of cultural elements in a society across time. Continuity can also be referred to as the maintenance of the traditions and social structures that bring stability to a society.
cooperation
The ability of individual members of a group to work together to achieve a common goal that is in the group’s interests and that contributes to the continued existence of the group.
culture
Refers to the values, arts, technology, laws and beliefs that bind a society together.
environment
Refers to the physical setting of a society, but also the social and psychological environment.
ethnicity (ethnic identity)
An individual’s identification with, or sense of belonging to, an ethnic group. This is based on perceived common origins that people share, such as a specific ancestry and culture, that mark them as different from others.
focus group
A research method used to collect data from an in-depth planned discussion of a defined topic held by a small group of people brought together by a moderator. An interview schedule, time and place are organised. The recording of responses increases the success of this method. The techniques of conducting the focus group are similar to those of conducting an in-depth interview. However, the researcher needs to be able to manage the discussion.
gender
The socially constructed differences between females and males. Social life – including family life, roles, work, behaviour and other activities – is organised around the dimensions of this difference. Gender also refers to the cultural ideals, identity and stereotypes of masculinity and femininity and the sexual division of labour in institutions and organisations. Gender reflects the values a society places on these social constructs, which are particular and unique to a society.
globalisation
A process of integration and the sharing of goods, capital, services, knowledge, leisure, sport, ideas and culture between countries. It has been brought about by improved technologies. Globalisation is evidenced in the emergence of global patterns of consumption and consumerism; the growth of transnational corporations; the emergence of global sport; the spread of world tourism; and the growth of global military and economic systems. Globalisation has created a consciousness of the world as a single place.
identity
The sense of self. This can be viewed from the personal, social and cultural levels. Identity is formed over a period of time and is the result of interactions at the micro, meso and macro levels of society. An identity has dimensions or layers that create a sense of inclusion in a group or culture. Contributing factors to one’s identity may include gender, sexuality, family, class, ethnicity, beliefs, social status, group membership and national pride.
ideology
An idea, maybe one held with passion, which shapes a person’s worldview.
interview
An interview may be tightly structured, semi-structured, unstructured, in depth or conversational. This method involves the researcher and the interviewee in a one-to-one situation and may be quite time consuming. The researcher may interview several people at different times using the same interview questions.
macro-level
The ‘big picture’ – the wider social structure, social processes and their interrelationships. Macro-level society includes those social institutions – such as the media, the law, the workplace and the government – that help to shape the social and cultural world. The macro level examines how these collective groups relate to the wider society of which they are a part (as a whole).
meso-level
The middle ground where individuals interact within groups such as schools, communities, church groups and neighbourhoods. The meso level consists of larger groups that interact directly with the individual. It focuses on relationships between middle-level social structures and the individual. Meso-level society is also known as middle-level society.
micro-level
Where individuals’ everyday actions and social interactions occur – for example, within families and small-scale social groups. The micro level focuses on patterns of social interaction at the individual level.
non-participant observation
The researcher observes the action taking place without actively engaging in it or interacting with the participants. The researcher draws meaning from what is being observed, rather than simply counting specific actions as in a quantitative observational study. Non participant observation can be covert or overt. A criticism of overt non participant observation is that the very presence of the researcher alters the behaviours and interactions of those being observed (the Hawthorne effect). A criticism of covert research is that it raises ethical concerns.
participant observation
The researcher is immersed in the action being observed and his or her role as researcher is not obvious. An example of participant observation occurs when the researcher joins a group in order to study it. Researchers using participant observation must be aware of the ethical implications of this method.
