Week 1 Intro To Sociology Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is Sociology?
Sociology is a field of knowledge that studies human society.
What does Sociology focus on?
It focuses on social groups, cultural systems, and social institutions, which are all products of human interaction.
What is the emphasis of Sociology?
The emphasis is on the collectivity, highlighting the importance of groups over individuals.
What is the objective of Sociology according to Auguste Comte?
Sociology aims to provide empirically verifiable, causal explanations of human behavior.
What question does Sociology seek to answer?
It seeks to answer the question: ‘Why do people do what they do?’
What did Comte believe about human behavior?
Comte believed that human behavior has causes and effects that can be uncovered through research.
What is Modernism?
Modernism is a cultural shift that rejects traditional beliefs and values in favor of contemporary ideals.
What does Modernism emphasize?
It emphasizes scientific rationalism, liberalism, and the belief that ‘the future can be better than the past.’
What is Basic Research?
Basic Research aims to understand what the social world is like and why it functions as it does.
What is the purpose of Basic Research?
It is knowledge for its own sake.
What is Applied Research?
Applied Research focuses on finding solutions to societal problems.
What is the aim of Applied Research?
It aims to improve the current state of social life.
What is the Sociological Imagination?
C. Wright Mills describes the sociological imagination as the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces.
What is Structural Functionalism?
Structural Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.
What does Conflict Theory focus on?
Conflict Theory focuses on the struggles between different social classes and groups.
What does Symbolic Interactionism examine?
Symbolic Interactionism examines how individuals interact and create meaning through symbols.
How is Sociology defined according to Peter Berger?
Sociology is defined by its focus on understanding social behavior through empirical observation and analysis.
