Understanding Sociology: Core Concepts and Perspectives
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Questions and Answers

What is sociology?

The study of society and social behavior.

What is a society?

A group of individuals sharing a culture.

What is culture?

Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.

What is social behavior?

<p>Interactions among individuals within a society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is sociological perspective?

<p>Viewing society through a sociological lens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a beginner's mind?

<p>Approaching the world without preconceived notions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is sociological imagination?

<p>Connecting personal troubles to public issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are personal troubles?

<p>Individual problems affecting personal life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are public issues?

<p>Societal problems affecting large groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is macro sociology?

<p>Study of large-scale social processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Industrial Revolution?

<p>Period of major industrial growth influencing sociology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the rise of cities?

<p>Urbanization leading to sociological development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a dialectic?

<p>Method of argument involving contradiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a social fact?

<p>Values and norms that shape social behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is structural-functionalist theory?

<p>Theory focusing on social structures and functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is conflict theory?

<p>Focus on power struggles and inequality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic interaction?

<p>Study of meanings and symbols in interactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is mechanical solidarity?

<p>Social cohesion based on shared activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is organic solidarity?

<p>Social cohesion based on interdependence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is social structure?

<p>Framework organizing society and relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are social functions?

<p>Consequences of social activities for society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a manifest function?

<p>Intended and recognized consequences of actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is qualitative research?

<p>Research focusing on non-numerical data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific method?

<p>Systematic observation and experimentation process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is positivist sociology?

<p>Approach focusing on observable social phenomena.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is interpretive sociology?

<p>Approach emphasizing understanding social meanings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a variable?

<p>Any characteristic that can change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is correlation?

<p>Relationship between two variables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnography?

<p>In-depth study of people and cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural relativism?

<p>Understanding cultures on their own terms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnocentrism?

<p>Evaluating other cultures based on one's own.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is material culture?

<p>Physical objects and artifacts of a culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic culture?

<p>Ideas and beliefs that shape a culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural diversity?

<p>Variety of cultural expressions within a society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a counterculture?

<p>Cultural group opposing dominant societal norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural change?

<p>Transformation of cultural practices over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural leveling?

<p>Reduction of cultural differences through globalization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Sociology

The study of human society and social interactions.

Society

A group of people living in a defined territory and sharing a common culture.

Culture

The shared beliefs, values, and practices that characterize a social group or society.

Social behavior

Actions and reactions among individuals in a society.

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Sociological perspective

A way of understanding the world through a sociological lens, considering social structures and forces.

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Beginner's mind

Approaching the world with an open mind, free from preconceived notions, to understand phenomena as they truly are.

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Sociological imagination

The ability to connect individual experiences with broader social forces and historical context.

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Personal troubles

Problems experienced on an individual level, affecting a person's immediate life.

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Public issues

Social problems that affect large groups of people and are rooted in the structure of society.

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Macro sociology

A sociological approach that examines large-scale social structures and processes.

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Micro sociology

A sociological approach that focuses on small-scale, face-to-face interactions and individual behavior.

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Industrial Revolution

A period of significant technological and economic advancements that transformed societies and influenced sociological thought.

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Rise of Cities

The increasing concentration of population in urban areas, contributing to new social dynamics and sociological inquiry.

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Dialectic

A method of reasoning that involves the exchange of opposing ideas to seek a synthesis or resolution.

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Social fact

The values, norms, and social structures that exist independently of individuals and shape their behavior.

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Structural-Functionalist

A sociological perspective that views society as a system of interdependent parts working together to maintain stability.

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Conflict Theory

A sociological perspective that emphasizes power struggles, inequality, and social change.

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Symbolic Interaction

A sociological perspective that examines how individuals create meaning through interaction and the use of symbols.

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Mechanical solidarity

Social unity based on shared beliefs, values, and activities, common in traditional societies.

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Organic solidarity

Social unity based on interdependence and specialization, common in industrial societies.

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Social structure

The framework of society that shapes interactions and relationships.

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Social functions

The consequences of social activities for the overall operation of society.

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Manifest function

The recognized and intended consequences of social actions.

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Latent function

The unrecognized and unintended consequences of social actions.

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Qualitative research

Research that focuses on non-numerical data, such as observations and interviews.

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Quantitative research

Research that involves numerical data and statistical analysis.

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Scientific method

A systematic process of observation, experimentation, and analysis to understand the world.

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Positivist Sociology

A sociological approach that focuses on observable social phenomena and empirical evidence.

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Interpretive Sociology

A sociological approach that emphasizes the importance of understanding social meanings and interpretations.

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Variable

A characteristic that can vary or change.

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Study Notes

  • Sociology is the study of society and social behavior.
  • Society refers to a group of individuals sharing a culture.
  • Culture encompasses the shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.
  • Social behavior involves interactions among individuals within a society.

Core Concepts

  • Sociological perspective is about viewing society through a sociological lens.
  • Beginner's mind means approaching the world without preconceived notions.
  • Sociological imagination involves connecting personal troubles to public issues.
  • Personal troubles are individual problems affecting personal life.
  • Public issues are societal problems affecting large groups.

Sociological Scale

  • Macro sociology studies of large-scale social processes.
  • Micro sociology focuses on small-scale interactions.

Historical Context

  • The Industrial Revolution was a period of major industrial growth influencing sociology.
  • The rise of cities, or urbanization, contributed to sociological development.

Theoretical Approaches

  • Dialectic is a method of argument involving contradiction.
  • Social facts are values and norms that shape social behavior.
  • Structural-Functionalist theory focuses on social structures and functions.
  • Conflict theory focuses on power struggles and inequality.
  • Symbolic interactionism is the study of meanings and symbols in interactions.
  • Mechanical solidarity is social cohesion based on shared activities.
  • Organic solidarity is social cohesion based on interdependence.
  • Social structure provides the framework organizing society and relationships.
  • Social functions are consequences of social activities for society.
  • Manifest functions are the intended and recognized consequences of actions.
  • Latent functions are the unintended and hidden consequences of actions.

Research Methods

  • Qualitative research focuses on non-numerical data.
  • Quantitative research involves numerical data and statistics.
  • The scientific method includes systematic observation and experimentation.
  • Positivist sociology focuses on observable social phenomena.
  • Interpretive Sociology emphasizes understanding social meanings.
  • A variable is any characteristic that can change.
  • Correlation indicates a relationship between two variables.
  • Causation means one event causes another event.
  • Ethnography consists of in-depth study of people and cultures.

Cultural Concepts

  • Cultural relativism involves understanding cultures on their own terms.
  • Ethnocentrism is evaluating other cultures based on one's own.
  • Material culture includes the physical objects and artifacts of a culture.
  • Symbolic culture includes the ideas and beliefs that shape a culture.
  • Cultural diversity represents the variety of cultural expressions within a society.
  • A subculture is a group within a larger culture with distinct values.
  • A counterculture is a cultural group opposing dominant societal norms.
  • Cultural change involves transformation of cultural practices over time.
  • Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of cultural beliefs and practices.
  • Cultural leveling is the reduction of cultural differences through globalization.
  • Cultural lag is the gap between cultural changes and societal norms.

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Description

Explore the basics of sociology, including the study of society, culture, and social behavior. Learn about sociological perspective, imagination, and the distinction between personal troubles and public issues. Understand macro and micro sociology, and the influence of the Industrial Revolution and urbanization.

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