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Flashcards in CLEP - Sociology 1-2 Deck (44)
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0
Q

Scientific perspective

A

Approach to sociology that stresses acquiring objective empirical knowledge (the actual knowledge derived from experience or observation that can be measured or counted)

1
Q

Humanistic

A

The approach to sociology that stresses self-realization, the full development of a cultivated personality, and the improvement of the human condition.

2
Q

Sociological imagination

A

Term coined by C, Wright Mills to describe a means of knowledge that expresses both an understanding that personal troubles can & often do reflect broader social issues & problems & also faith in the capacity of human beings to alter the course of human history; expresses the humanistic aspect of the sociological perspective

3
Q

Theological stage

A

1st stage in a pattern of development in which scientists look toward the supernatural realm of ideas for an explanation of what they observe

4
Q

Metaphysical stage

A

2nd stage in a pattern of development in which scientists begin to look to the real world for an explanation of what they have observed

5
Q

Positive stage

A

The definitive stage of all knowledge in which scientists search for general ideas or laws

6
Q

Deductive theory

A

Proceeds from general ideas, knowledge, or understanding of the social world from which specific hypotheses are logically deduced & tested

7
Q

Inductive theory

A

Proceeds from concrete observations from which general conclusions are inferred through a process of reasoning

8
Q

Interpretative theory

A

Studies the process whereby human beings attach meaning to their lives; includes the perspective of symbolic interaction, dramaturgy, & ethnomethodology

9
Q

Conflict theory

A

View of the social world that questions how factors such as race, sex, social class, & age are associated with an unequal distribution of socially valued goods & rewards

10
Q

Structural functionalism

A

View of society as a social system of interrelated parts & analogous to a living organism where each part contributes to the overall stability of the whole; society is seen as a complex system whose components work with one another

11
Q

Conflict paradigm

A

View of society as being characterized by conflict & inequality

12
Q

Research methods

A

Refers both to a strategy or plan for carrying out research & the means of carrying out the strategy

13
Q

Quantitative methods

A

Research method that makes use of statistical & other mathematical techniques of quantification or measurement in an effort to describe & interpret observations

14
Q

Qualitative methods

A

Research method that relies on personal observation & description of social life in order to explain behavior

15
Q

Verstehen

A

Understanding as a means of characterizing & interpreting or explaining, done through applying reason to the external & inner context of specific social situations; developed by Max Weber

16
Q

Survey method

A

Method of observation in which subjects are asked about their opinions, beliefs, or behavior; info is collected directly from the respondents by means of an interview or indirectly by means of a self-administered written form of a questionnaire

17
Q

Descriptive survey

A

Captures info about a situation, condition, event, attitude, or opinion at a specific time

18
Q

Explanatory survey

A

Captures info in order to test theories & casual or correlational relationships between variables

19
Q

Independent variable

A

A variable that influences another variable

20
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable that is influenced by another variable

21
Q

Correlational relationship

A

Exists when a change in one variable coincides with, but does not cause, a change in another

22
Q

Causal relationship

A

Exists when a change in one variable causes or forces a change in the other

23
Q

Representative sample

A

A sample of respondents that accurately reflects the population from which it is drawn

24
Q

Random sample

A

A sample where every member of the population has the same chance of being chosen for study

25
Q

Systematic sampling

A

A type of sample in which the nth unit in a list is selected for inclusion in the sample

26
Q

Stratified sampling

A

A type of sampling that uses the differences that already exist in a population as the basis for selecting a sample; knowing the percentage of the population that falls into a particular category, the researcher then randomly selects a number of persons to be studied from each category in the same proportion as exists in the population

27
Q

Stratified sampling

A

A type of sampling that uses the differences that already exist in a population as the basis for selecting a sample; knowing the percentage of the population that falls into a particular category, the researcher then randomly selects a number of persons to be studied from each category in the same proportion as exists in the population

28
Q

Experimental group

A

A group of subjects to be studied

29
Q

Control group

A

A similar population to the experimental group upon which the action has not been performed

30
Q

Unobtrusive observation

A

Observation from a distance, without being involved in the group or activity being studied

31
Q

Participant observation

A

Observation by a researcher who is (or appears to be) a member of the group or a participant in the activity he is studying

32
Q

Secondary analysis

A

The analysis of existing sources of info

33
Q

Content analysis

A

The quantitative or qualitative techniques employed to describe the contents of the materials

34
Q

Sociology

A

The science or discipline that studies societies, social groups, & the relationships between people

35
Q

Auguste Comte

A

1838; concluded that every science follows the same regular pattern of development; coined the term Sociology–society as distinct from the mere sum of individual actions, & its methods, prudent observation & impartial measurement based on the scientific method of comparison

36
Q

Stages of sociology development

A

1st stage - theological stage
2nd stage - metaphysical stage
3rd stage - positive stage

37
Q

Harriet Martineau

A

1802-1876; observed English social patterns at same time Comte was laying a foundation for sociology

38
Q

Karl Marx

A

1818-1883; theoretical giant of communist thought

39
Q

Herbert Spencer

A

1820-1903; idea that society follows a natural evolutionary progression toward something better

40
Q

Emile Durkheim

A

1858-1917; statistical study of suicide

41
Q

Max Weber

A

1864-1920; series of studies in which he sought to explain the origins of capitalism

42
Q

Lester Ward (1841-1913) & William Graham Sumner (1840 - 1910)

A

Influenced the concentration on narrower & more specific social problems

43
Q

Grand theory

A

Advocated by functionalist Talcott Parsons, involves the building of a theory of society based on aspects of the real world & the organization of these concepts to form a conception of society as a stable system of interrelated parts