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Sociology
Chapter 1
25
Sociology
Professional
06/05/2012

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Term
Sociology
Definition
a systematic approach to thinking about studying and understanding society, human social behavior, and social groups
Term
Auguste Comte
Definition
coined the term “sociology”; he’s considered the founder of sociology
Term
Karl Marx
Definition
a conflict theorist who believed that conflict was usually a result of economy; result of conflict is change in society
Term
Emile Durkheim
Definition
theorist who believed that societies were held together by common values/beliefs; looked at contribution of parts of a society and its impact on the whole; He did the 1st studies on suicide and was the 1st to apply the scientific method to human
Term
Talcott Parsons
Definition
considered the most influential American Sociologist; viewed society as a stable, though complex system of interdependent parts, each of which performed a function important to the system
Term
C. Wright Mills
Definition
an influential American Sociologist; his theories about the power elite set the stage for research on the American power structure; synonymous with term “sociological imagination”
Term
Subjectivity
Definition
basing an understanding on personal values and experiences; human judgment plays a role therefore; biases can & do occur
Term
Applied sociology
Definition
research conducted to provide solutions to immediate, practical problems
Term
Academic sociology
Definition
research conducted for the sake of knowledge
Term
Methodology
Definition
system of rules, procedures and principles that guides scientific investigation
Term
Empirical research
Definition
involves direct observance using the senses (sight, hearing)
Term
Variable
Definition
any characteristic that can change or differ from time to time, person to person or place to place
Term
Causation
Definition
when one variable has an influence on another
Term
Correlation
Definition
determining the relationship between two variables (can be positive, negative, or none)
Term
Controls
Definition
method used in experimentation that helps eliminate extraneous cause to a relationship between 2 Variables
Term
Population
Definition
entire group of people the researcher is focused on studying (single mothers, men age 21, etc)
Term
Random sample
Definition
subjects chosen in a way that allows every member of the population an equal chance of being selected for the sample (should be a representative sample)
Term
Verstehen
Definition
a principle used by Max Weber that means empathetic understanding;
Term
Beliefs
Definition
shared ideas held collectively by people within a given culture
Term
Sociology defined
Definition
Sociology defined is a systematic approach to thinking about studying and understanding society, human social behavior, and social groups It’s primary focus: groups rather than individuals Sociologists love to watch social interaction: the ways people behave towards, respond to and influence one another Groups: main frame of reference of sociologists
Term
Characteristics of Sociology
Definition
Characteristics of Sociology:
regarded as a science by sociologists
a social science (uses methods of science in order to study human social behavior) concerned with human social behavior on a relatively large scale (ex: how minorities will respond rather than individuals)
Sociology as a discipline – less advanced; difficulties of subjects having self- awareness of being studied
Term
Science
Definition
Science - Logical, systematic methods by which knowledge is acquired as well as the actual body of knowledge produced by these methods
Term
Natural sciences:
Definition
Natural sciences: physical and biological (much more objective)
Term
Social sciences:
Definition
Social sciences: human behavior (more subjective – more challenging to study human subjects)
Term
The Social Sciences
Definition
The Social Sciences - related group of disciplines that study various aspects of human behavior
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