The scientific study of human social activity and groups
Define sociological perspective
The special point of view of sociology that sees special patterns of society in the lives of particular people
Define global perspective
The study of the larger world and the society's place in it
Origins of sociology
Changes in society, growth in cities, and political change
Who is August Comte?
Father of socioloy
Law of 3 stages (Transformation of societies, simple to complex)
1. Theological explanation/ religious explanations (its gods way)
2. Metaphysical stage (karma)
3. Positivist stage- uses science to explain why things happen and/or happening
Structural- functual approach
Sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
Social conflict appoach
Sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. Looks at factors such as social class race age sexual orientation power education and social prestige
Major theoretical approaches
1. Structural Functional
2. social conflict
3. symbolic interaction
Robert Merton's functions
1. Manifest- obvious intended consequences
2. latent unintended- (hidden curriculum)
3. dysfunctional-negative "consequences"
Define theory
a statement of how and why specific facts are related
Sociology theory
to explain social behavior in the real world
Symbolic interaction approach
sees society as the product of the everday interactions of individual
Sources of truth
1. belief/faith we know
2. experts (physicians)
3. general agreement
4. science (way of knowing)
Research cycle
1. select topic
2. identify a problem/ ask a question
3. literature review
4. form hypothesis
5. choose a research strategy
6. select research method
7. collect and analyze data
8. publish data
Problems with research
1. human behavior is not 100% predictable
2. the presence of researchers will affect our behaviors "Hawthorne effect"
3. its difficult to be objective because we select topics we like
4. the world is constantly changing
5. the use of technology/ media is constantly changing
Define culture
the entire way of life of a group of people through which one views the world and is passed from one generation to the next
Categories of culture
1. material culture
2. non material culture (symbolic culture)
Points of view
1. ethnocentrism
2. cultural relativism
components of culture
1. symbols (gestures)
2. language (sapir)
3. values (ideas about what is desirable or right and wrong is a particular group)
4. norms (normal behavior)
cultural variations
1. multiculturalism
2. dominant culture
3. subculture
4. counterculture
Cultural wars- ideal culture vs. real culture
Ideal cultures- the norms values and patterns of behavior that members of a society believe should be observed
Real cultural- the norms, values and patterns of behavior that actually exist within a society
Define and discuss the distinguishing features of the sociological perspective
guides public policy, helps our daily lives, allows preparation for a multitude of diverse careers
functional structural approach
a. macro-level
b. robert merton
social conflict
a. macro level
b. karl marx- conflict is necessary because it creates change
1. gender- conflict aproach- pt. of view that focuses on inequality and conflict btw. men and women
2. feminism- support of social inequality for women and men 3. race
Robert mertons theory
you can look at anything in society and it has a function