Sociology Perspectives: Positivism vs Anti-Positivism

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Questions and Answers

How does the conflict theory perspective view socialization?

As an opportunity for all groups to gain equal representation.

As a means for individuals to find personal fulfillment in society.

As an irrelevant process that does not affect group dynamics.

As a mechanism for dominant groups to maintain power over subordinate groups. (correct)

What role does language play in the symbolic interactionist perspective of socialization?

It solely serves to maintain societal norms.

It acts as a barrier to communication between social groups.

It is a tool for acquiring and interpreting symbols that shape identity. (correct)

It is irrelevant to the formation of identity.

According to functionalism, how do social institutions like family or education contribute to society?

By helping individuals internalize societal values and maintain stability. (correct)

By encouraging individualism and chaos.

By undermining societal values and norms.

By promoting competition among various social groups.

What is the primary distinction between a subculture and a counterculture?

Countercultures reject societal norms, while subcultures accept them but have their own values. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of achieved and ascribed status, which of the following explains their relationship?

Ascribed status can limit or enhance achieved status. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the symbolic interactionist view on labeling and deviance?

Social interactions play a crucial role in reinforcing deviant identities through labeling. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of norms defined in sociology?

Legitimates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following paradigms focuses on the relationship between social institutions and social stability?

Functionalism Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assumption of conflict theory regarding social institutions?

They reproduce and perpetuate social inequalities. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'anomie' in sociological terms?

The breakdown of social norms and values. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'labeling theory' primarily focus on?

The impact of societal labels on individual behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for expectations concerning appropriate behavior associated with a specific status?

Role performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts describes a situation where an individual faces contradictory demands from different roles?

Role conflict Signup and view all the answers

In sociological research, what distinguishes qualitative methods from quantitative methods?

Qualitative methods explore deeper meanings, while quantitative methods measure data numerically. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle of McDonaldization refers to the use of non-human technology in the service process?

Control Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Positivism and Anti-Positivism

Positivism: views sociology as a science, using empirical methods to study social phenomena.
Anti-positivism: emphasizes the subjective experience of individuals and the importance of understanding social meaning.

Social facts: external social structures that shape individual behavior and actions.

Theory

Theory: a set of interrelated propositions that explain a phenomenon.

Macro and Micro Level

Macro-level sociology: studies large-scale social structures and institutions.
Micro-level sociology: focuses on individual interactions and small-scale social groups.

Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalism: views society as a complex system with interconnected parts that work together to maintain order and stability.
- Assumptions: Society is a system with interdependent parts that work together for stability.
- Views society as: a harmonious whole where everyone benefits from shared values and norms.
Conflict Theory: views society as characterized by conflict between groups with competing interests for power and resources.
- Assumptions: Society is a system of inequality and power struggles.
- Views society as: a system where different groups compete for power and resources.
Symbolic Interactionism: focuses on how individuals create and interpret shared meanings through social interactions.
- Assumptions: Society is a product of individual interactions and shared meanings.
- Views society as: a dynamic process of interaction and interpretation.

Function/Dysfunction

Function: any action that supports the maintenance of social order.
Dysfunction: any action that disrupts social order.

Manifest/Latent

Manifest function: the intended and recognized outcomes of an action.
Latent function: the unintended and unrecognized outcomes of an action.

Anomie

Anomie: a state of social confusion or normlessness where individuals feel disconnected from society.

Alienation

Alienation: feelings of estrangement or separation from oneself or others; caused by social conditions that dehumanize individuals.

False Consciousness

False Consciousness: a belief system that distorts reality and prevents people from seeing their true interests.

Verstehen

Verstehen: German word meaning "understanding," used by Max Weber to emphasize the importance of understanding the subjective meanings individuals attach to their actions.

Thomas Theorem

Thomas Theorem: "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."

The Scientific Method

Basic approach/flow of the scientific method:
- Observe: Observe a social phenomenon of interest.
- Develop a question: Formulate a research question about the observed phenomenon.
- Hypothesis: Develop a testable prediction about the relationship between variables.
- Collect data: Gather relevant data to test the hypothesis.
- Analyze data: Analyze the collected data to identify patterns and relationships.
- Conclusion: Draw a conclusion about the hypothesis based on the data analysis.
- Disseminate: Communicate the findings to others.

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Qualitative methods: collect non-numerical data to explore social phenomena, such as interviews, focus groups, and participant observation.
Quantitative methods: collect numerical data through surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis.

Correlation vs. Causality

Correlation: a relationship between two variables, where changes in one variable correspond with changes in another variable.
Causation (or causality): when a change in one variable directly causes a change in another variable.

Reliability

Reliability: the extent to which a research instrument consistently produces similar results.

Validity

Validity: the extent to which a research instrument accurately measures what it is intended to measure.

Culture

Culture: the shared beliefs, customs, values, and practices of a group of people.

Norms (folkways; mores; taboos)

Norms: rules and expectations that guide behavior.
- Folkways: informal rules and expectations for everyday behavior.
- Mores: more serious norms that reflect moral values and have consequences for violation.
- Taboos: strongly prohibited actions that are considered morally reprehensible.

Values

Values: abstract ideas about what is right, wrong, good, and bad.

Language

Language: a system of shared symbols and meanings that allows people to communicate.

Subculture/Counterculture

Subculture: a group within a larger culture that shares distinctive beliefs, values, and practices.
Counterculture: a group that rejects the values and norms of the dominant culture and seeks to change it.

Ethnocentrism/Xenocentrism

Ethnocentrism: judging other cultures by the standards of your own culture.
Xenocentrism: the belief that another culture is superior to your own.

Cultural Imperialism

Cultural imperialism: the dominance of one culture over another.

Status

Status: a socially defined position in society.
- Achieved status: a status earned or chosen through individual efforts.
- Ascribed status: a status assigned at birth or inherited, such as race, gender, or social class.

Role

Role: the set of norms and expectations associated with a particular status.

Role Performance

Role performance: how effectively an individual carries out a role.

Role Conflict

Role conflict: a situation where the expectations of two or more roles are incompatible.

Role Strain

Role strain: a situation where the demands of a single role are difficult to meet.

Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy: a theoretical perspective developed by Erving Goffman that views social life as a performance.

Groups

Groups: two or more people who interact and share a sense of belonging.

Size and Structure Dynamics

Size and structure dynamics: group size and structure influence group dynamics and interactions.

Primary, Secondary, Reference

Primary group: a small, intimate group characterized by close personal relationships.
Secondary group: a larger, impersonal group formed for a specific goal, such as a workplace or a club.
Reference group: a group that an individual uses as a point of reference for judging their own behaviors, attitudes, and values.

In-group vs Out-group

Ingroup: a group to which an individual feels they belong.
Outgroup: a group to which an individual does not feel they belong.

Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy: a large, complex organization characterized by specialization, hierarchy, and rules.

McDonaldization

McDonaldization: the process by which rational principles of the fast-food restaurant are applied to other aspects of society.
- Efficiency: maximizing output with minimum effort.
- Calculability: emphasis on quantity over quality.
- Predictability: uniformity and standardization.
- Control: replacing human judgment with technology.

Socialization

Socialization: the process through which individuals learn the values, beliefs, and behaviors of their culture and develop a sense of self.

Agents of Socialization

Agents of socialization: individuals, groups, and institutions that shape individuals' socialization.
- Family: primary socialization, including values, beliefs, and behaviors.
- School: teaches academic skills, rules, expectations, and social interactions.
- Peers: provide a social context for learning about norms, values, and behaviors.
- Media: shapes attitudes, values, and behaviors through exposure to images, narratives, and information.
- Religion: teaches religious beliefs, values, and moral codes.
Anticipatory socialization: learning about the values, beliefs, and behaviors of a group or position one expects to join in the future.
Moral socialization: learning about right and wrong, ethical principles, and social expectations.
Resocialization: the process of learning new values, beliefs, and behaviors that replace old ones.

Looking-Glass Self

Looking-glass self: the process of developing a sense of self in a group with the help of social interactions.
- Imagine how we appear to others.
- Interpret how others judge us.
- Develop a self-concept based on these interpretations.

Role-Taking

Role-taking: the ability to take on the perspective of another person and see the world from their point of view.

Generalized Other

Generalized other: the internalized expectations, values, and norms of society.

Total institution

Total institution: a setting where individuals are cut off from the outside world and their lives are tightly controlled, examples include prisons, mental asylums, or military training camps.

Degradation Ceremony

Degradation ceremony: a ritual that publicly strips an individual of their former identity.

Conformity

Conformity: adjusting one's thoughts, behaviors, or values to match the actions or standards of others.

Deviance

Deviance: any behavior that violates social norms and expectations.

Sanction

Sanction: a reward for conforming to norms or a punishment for violating them.

Strain/Anomie Theory (Know the 4 classifications)

Strain/anomie theory: explains deviance as a result of social structural conditions that create strain or pressure on individuals.
- Conformity: accepting both cultural goals and institutional means of achieving those goals.
- Innovation: accepting cultural goals but rejecting institutional means.
- Ritualism: rejecting cultural goals but accepting institutional means.
- Retreatism: rejecting both cultural goals and institutional means.
- Rebellion: rejecting both cultural goals and institutional means but seeking to replace them with new ones.

Labeling Theory

Labeling theory: focuses on how social labels shape behavior and identity.

School-to-Prison Pipeline

School-to-prison pipeline: the trend of students being funneled from schools into the criminal justice system.

Functionalist Perspective
- Social institutions: maintain social order and stability.
- Socialization: teaches values and norms to ensure people function cohesively.
- Deviance: serves as a boundary-maintenance function and clarifies norms.
Conflict Theory Perspective
- Social institutions: perpetuate inequalities, with groups competing for power and resources.
- Socialization: helps powerful groups maintain control over less powerful groups.
- Deviance: a result of social inequalities, used by the powerful to control the powerless.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
- Social institutions: are actively shaped through social interactions and shared meanings.
- Socialization: involves learning symbols, interpretations, and language, shaping who we are.
- Deviance: is defined through social interactions and labels.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of positivism and anti-positivism in sociology. This quiz delves into social facts, theoretical perspectives, and the distinctions between macro and micro-level sociology. Test your understanding of these foundational ideas in the field of sociology.