Social Sciences and Research Flashcards
[branch of soc sci] studies human societies, their contextual bounds, and the interactions and processes that preserve and change them
sociology
[branch of soc sci] the scientific discipline that studies mental states, biological processes and behaviour
psychology
[branch of soc sci] the systematic study of governance which examines the state, its organs and institutions
political science
[branch of soc sci] studies human beings in aspects ranging from the biology and evolutionary history of our species, to the features of society and culture that decisively distinguish humans from other animal species
anthropology
[branch of soc sci] seeks to analyze and describe the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth and resources
economics
[branch of soc sci] the rational, abstract, and methodical consideration of reality as a whole or of fundamental dimensions of human existence and experiences
philosophy
[branch of soc sci] studies the chronological record of events, as affecting a nation or people, based on a critical examination of source materials and usually presenting an explanation of their causes
history
[branch of soc sci] the study of the diverse environments, places, and spaces of Earth’s surface and their interactions
geography
this refers to a standardized set of techniques for building scientific knowledge
scientific method
4 key characteristics of the scientific method
logical, confirmable, repeatable, scrutinizable
[key characteristics of the scientific method] scientific inferences must be based on logical principles
logical
[key characteristics of the scientific method] inferences derived must match with observed evidence
confirmable
[key characteristics of the scientific method] other scientists should be able to independently replicate or repeat a scientific study and obtain similar, if not identical, results
repeatable
[key characteristics of the scientific method] the procedures used, and the inferences derived, must withstand critical scrutiny (peer review) by other researchers
scrutinizable
a type of research method that examines a person, place, event, phenomenon in order to extrapolate key themes and results that help predicts future trends
case study
a type of research method that uses group by group analytic treatment of individuals having a statistical factor in common to each group. group members share a particular characteristics or experiences
cohort analysis
a type of research method where the method of study is to study groups and/or cultures overs a period of time. the goal of this research is to comprehend the particular group or culture through immersion into the culture or group
ethnography
a type of research method that implores the use of independent and dependent variables
experiment
a type of research where academic or other investigative studies undertaken in a natural setting, rather than in laboratories, classrooms or other structured environments
field studies
a type of research method that is done in small, roundtable discussion groups charged with examining specific topics or problems, including possible options or solutions. consists of participants, guided by moderators
focus group
technically termed as statistical inference, the process of using data from a sample to make estimates or test hypotheses about a population
survey
defined as the languages, customs, beliefs, rules, arts, knowledge, and collective identities and memories developed by members of all social groups that make their social environments meaningful
culture
these are institutional patterns of normative culture, the features of a social entity that persists over time, are interrelated, and influence both the functioning of the entity as a whole and the activities of its individual members
structure
stable patterns of behavior that define, govern, and constrain action
institutions
what are the elements of culture?
social norms, material culture, language
element of culture that describes the rule or standard of behavior shared by members of a social group. norms may be internalized, or they may be enforced by positive or negative sanctions
social norms
under social norms, where arbitrary rules governing the countless behaviors that individuals engage in every day without necessarily thinking about said acts deliberatively
conventions
under social norms, set of rules that has a strong cultural significance and enforcement which expresses the group sense of what is fitting, right and conducive to social welfare . considered indispensable and violations incur social punishment and peer disapproval
mores
under social norms, uniformities in the behavior of a group which develop relatively spontaneously and even unconsciously in adapting to common life conditions and which become established through repetition and general occurrence
folkways
under social norms, formal means of social control. generally recorded, codified and enforced by a governing authority or body for the protection of life, property, and liberty
laws
under social norms, actions or behaviors that violate informal social norms or formally-enacted rules
deviance
2 types of deviance
formal, informal
type of deviance where there is violation of legal codes, results in criminal action initiated by the state
formal deviance
type of deviance where there is violation of unwritten, social rules of behavior, and results in social sanction or stigma. lesser degrees of social violation results in preference rather than stigmatization
informal deviation
element of culture that centers upon objects, their properties, and the materials that they are made of, and the ways in which these material facets are central to an understanding of culture and social relations.
material culture
element of culture defined as a system of conventional spoken, manual, or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves
language
[culture concepts] guiding principles of human civilization that are so central to human identity that can be found, in some form, in all societies, both past and present, around the world
cultural universal
[culture concepts] refers to 2 or more different forms of behavior, which co-exists, and are socially acceptable in a given context
cultural alternative
the 5 intracultural processes
socialization, enculturation, subculture, gemeinschaft, gesellschaft
[intracultural process] the process of deliberately shaping, by way of tutelage, of the individual for the development of behavioral similarities within a culture
socialization
[intracultural process] an encompassing or surrounding of the individual by one’s culture. the individual acquires, by immersion, what the culture deems necessary
enculturation
[intracultural process] ethnic, regional, economic, or social groups exhibiting characteristics patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish them from the larger society to which they belong
subculture
[intracultural process] 1 of the 2 types of social organization conceived by German sociologist, Ferdinand Tonnies. Referred to as the “communal society”
gemeinschaft
[intracultural process] typified by modern cosmopolitan societies with their government bureaucracies and large industrial organizations. rational self-interest and calculating conduct act to weaken the traditional bonds of family and kinship, human relations are more impersonal and indirect
gesellschaft
intercultural or cross-cultural processes includes
acculturation, assimilation, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, xenocentrism, stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, social change, social problem
[type of intercultural process] the processes of change in artifacts, customs, and beliefs that result from the contact of 2 or more cultures
acculturation
[type of intercultural process] the process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of society. involves taking on the traits of the dominant culture to such a degree that the assimilating group becomes socially indistinguishable
assimilation
[type of intercultural process] a general tolerance and respect for difference, which refers to the idea that cultural context is critical to an understanding of people’s values, beliefs and practices.
cultural relativism
[type of intercultural process] a term applied to the cultural or ethnic bias, whether conscious or unconscious, in which an individual views the world from the perspective of his or her own group, establishing the in-group as archetypal, and rating all other groups with reference to this deal
ethnocentrism
[type of intercultural process] the opposite of ethnocentrism and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own
xenocentrism
[type of intercultural process] the positive or negative beliefs that an individual holds about the characteristics of social groups
stereotypes
[type of intercultural process] an unjustifiable negative attitude towards an outgroup or toward the members of the outgroup
prejudice
[type of intercultural process] an unjustifiable negative behavior toward members of outgroups based on their group membership
discrimination
[type of intercultural process] the alteration of mechanisms within the social structure, characterized by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behavior, social organizations or value systems
social change
[type of intercultural process] refers to social conditions that disrupt or damage society
social problem
coined by American sociologist, William Fielding Ogburn. Refers in particular to a gap that develops between fast changing technology and other slower-paced sociocultural traits
cultural lag
what are the micro and macro theories of society?
functionalism, conflict theory (competition, conflict), symbolic interactionism, structuralism, evolutionism
[macro theory] all aspects of a society serve a purpose, and that all are necessary, therefore indispensable, for the long term survival of the society
functionalism: emile durkheim
a social system is assumed to have a ____ in which all parts of the system work together with some degree of internal consistency
functional unity
[macro theory] claims that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources. it holds that social order is maintained by domination and power, rather than consensus and conformity
conflict theory: karl marx
[under conflict theory] a goal oriented form of social interaction in which the goals or objects pursued are limited so not all competitors can attain them. competitive behavior is governed by rules and limitations
competition
[under conflict theory] a form of social interaction involving direct struggle between individuals or groups over commonly valued resources or goals.
conflict
[micro theory] focuses on the relationships among individuals within a society. communication, the exchange of meaning through language and symbols, is believed to be the way in which people make sense of their social worlds
symbolic interactionism: max weber and george mead
[micro theory] emphasizes the mutual dependency of human agency and social structures. states that people are not just independent actors making independent decisions, but products of the social conditions in which they live in
structuralism
[[micro theory] built from Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection. states that just as species were thought to evolve into increasing complexity, so too were cultures thought to progress from a simple to complex states
evolutionism: edward b. tylor
[family] forms of marriage: the union between 2 individuals
[family] an individual has multiple spouses over their lifetime, but only one at a time
[family] forms of marriage: the union between 3 or more individuals
polygamy
[family] a marriage between a man and multiple women
polyandry
[family] several males are married simultaneously to several families
group marriage
[family] a group of people who are united by ties of partnership and parenthood and consisting of a pair of adults and their socially recognized children.
nuclear family
[family] an expansion of the nuclear family, usually built around a unilineal descent group.
extended family
[family] a locus where biological (consanguineal) and marital (affinal) forms of kinship combine
residence
[type of residence] newlyweds establish a home independent of the location of either set of parents
neolocal
[type of residence] the couple alternates between the wife’s group and the husband’s group
bilocal
[type of residence] they live with or near the kin of the husband
patrilocal or virilocal
[type of residence] they live with or near the kin of the wife
matrilocal or uxorilocal
[type of residence] boys leave their natal home during adolescence and join the household of one of their maternal uncles. when the boys marries, his wife joins him as a member of the uncles residence group
avunculocal
[forms of governments and polsci] a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, without any rules laws, constitution or legally organized opposition
absolute monarchy
[forms of governments and polsci] a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority
anarchy
[forms of governments and polsci] the state plans and controls the economy and a single party holds power, state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people
communist
[forms of governments and polsci] a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom
constitutional monarch
[forms of governments and polsci] the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them
democratic republic
[forms of governments and polsci] similar to a monarchy or sultanate, the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (ruler of a muslim state), the emir may be an absolute overload or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority
emirate
[forms of governments and polsci] the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives
federal republic
[forms of governments and polsci] the members of an executive branch are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament by means of a no-confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function
parliamentary government
[forms of governments and polsci] a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a Prime Minister, premier or chancellor, who are drawn from a legislature
parliamentary monarchy
[forms of governments and polsci] Similar to a monarchy, a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a Sultan; the Sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority
sultanate
[forms of governments and polsci] The state involves itself in all facets of society, including the daily life of its citizens. this seeks to control not only all economic and political matters but the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population, erasing the distinction between state and society
totalitarianism
[polsci terms and concepts] A system of social control under which the right to make laws, and the right to enforce them, is vested in a particular group in society
government
[polsci terms and concepts] A requirement that legal matters be resolved according to established rules and principles, and that individuals be treated fairly. It applies to both civil and criminal matters.
due process
[polsci terms and concepts] Fundamental principles of government in a nation, either implied in its laws, institutions, and customs, or embodied in one fundamental document or in several.
constitution
[polsci terms and concepts] Established a representative democracy with power divided among three separate and independent branches of government: the executive, a bicameral legislature, and the judiciary.
the 1987 Philippine constitution
[polsci terms and concepts] A remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity. The writ shall cover extralegal killings and enforce disappearances or threats thereof.
writ of amparo
[polsci terms and concepts] It is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to determine if the person’s imprisonment or detention is lawful.
writ of habeas corpus
[polsci terms and concepts] A remedy available to any person whose right to privacy in life, liberty or security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act of any official or employee, or of a private individual or entity engaged in the gathering, collecting or storing of data or information. Under this writ, a person can compel the release of information, or to update, rectify, suppress or destroy database, information or files in the control of the respondents in a petition.
writ of habeas data
[polsci terms and concepts] A legal remedy under the Philippine law for persons whose constitutional right to “a balanced and healthy ecology” is violated by an unlawful act or omission of a public official, employee, or private individual or entity.
writ of kalikasan
[fundamental and inherent powers of the state] The power of the state to regulate liberty and property for the promotion of the general welfare.
police power
[fundamental and inherent powers of the state] The power which enables the state to acquire private property, upon payment of just compensation, for some intended public use.
power of eminent domain
[fundamental and inherent powers of the state] The power to impose burdens or charges upon persons, property or rights for the use and support of the government to be able to discharge its functions.
power of taxation
[economics] An 18th century Scottish economist, philosopher, and author who is considered the father of modern economics. He proposed the idea of an “invisible hand” or the tendency of free markets to regulate themselves by means of competition, supply and demand, and self-interest.
Adam Smith
[economics] An economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods. The production of goods and services is based on supply and demand known as a “market economy” rather than through central planning, known as a “planned economy or command economy”. The purest form of capitalism is laissez-faire capitalism or free market. Here private individuals are unrestrained.
Capitalism
[economics] A system where the government, rather than the free market, determines what goods should be produced, how much should be produced, and the price at which the goods are offered for sale. This is a key feature of any communist society.
command economy
[economics] A populist economic and political system based on public ownership (also known as collective or common ownership) of the means of production. Those means include the machinery, tools, and factories used to produce goods that aim to directly satisfy human needs.
socialism
[economics] Originated from the works of Thomas Robert Malthus. The theory that the world’s population tends to increase faster than the food supply and that unless fertility is controlled famine, disease, and war must serve as natural population restrictions.
malthusianism
[economics] The possession that population could be controlled by using birth control methods, and also identify the working class with the problem of overpopulation.
neo-malthusianism
[economics] The economic law stating that if one input in the production of a commodity is increased while all other inputs are held fixed, a point will eventually be reached at which additions of the input yield progressively smaller, or diminishing, increases in output.
law of diminishing returns
