Sociological Thinking
This term, coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to the ability to understand personal experiences within larger social contexts.
sociological imagination
This theory views society as interrelated parts working together for stability.
structural-functionalism
Methods that use numerical data like surveys and experiments are called this.
quantitative methods
The variable that is manipulated or controlled.
independent variable
Organized patterns of relationships and interactions within society.
social structure
This perspective examines how economic trends and globalization affect unemployment rather than blaming individuals.
sociological perspective
This theory sees society as a struggle over scarce resources.
social-conflict theory
Ethnography and interviews fall under this type of research.
qualitative methods
The outcome variable affected by another variable.
dependent variable
Established systems that fulfill specific societal functions.
social institutions
Making conclusions about individuals based on group-level data is called this.
ecological fallacy
This theory focuses on symbols and meanings created through interaction.
symbolic interactionism
This approach begins with theory and tests hypotheses.
deductive approach
When two variables move in the same direction.
positive correlation
The process by which norms and values become ingrained in institutions.
instituitionlization
Drawing conclusions about an entire group from one individual is called this.
exception fallacy
According to this theorist, social patterns have manifest and latent functions.
Robert Merton
Strictly defining concepts into measurable variables is called this.
operationalization
A false relationship caused by a third variable.
spurious correlation
When minority neighborhoods face disproportionate environmental hazards.
environmental racism/classism
This concept explains the interplay between agency and structure in shaping human behavior.
social structure
Unrecognized and unintended consequences of social patterns are called this.
latent functions
Three necessary components for causation include correlation, temporal order, and this.
non-spurious relationship
Consistency of measurement over time.
reliability
Behavior change when people know they’re being observed.
Hawthorne Effect