Intro to Sociology
What is sociology?
the systematic study of groups and group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups
What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?
Quantitative Data = numerical, statistical, surveys, large # of people
Qualitative Data = observed data, interviews, ethnography, secondary data research
What historical events led to the development of European sociology?
Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Development of Capitalism
What were the six kinds of organizations we covered in class? (DAILY DOUBLE: Provide an example of each)
Normative/Voluntary Organizations
Coercive Organizations
Utilitarian Organizations
For-Profit Organizations
Public Organizations
Non-Profit Organizations
How are personal troubles different from public issues?
Personal troubles happen to one person, while public issues happen to a group or a large segment of the population. Example: Losing your job because you were late to work regularly vs. mass layoffs during COVID
What kind of evidence does sociology rely upon?
Empirical evidence aka data
What are the three theoretical perspectives in sociology? (DAILY DOUBLE: define the focus of each one)
Structural Functionalism - The way each part of society functions together to contribute to the whole
Conflict Theory - The way inequalities contribute to social differences and perpetuate differences in power
Symbolic Interactionism - One-to-one interactions and communications
What did Granovetter find in his study “The Strength of Weak Ties”?
Most people found jobs through weak ties rather than through strong ties
Define structure and agency
Structure = refers to the complex and stable framework of society that influences all individuals or groups through the relationship between institutions (e.g., economy, politics, religion) and social practices (e.g., behaviors, norms, and values)
Agency = tends to refer to the ability to make independent decisions
How are interpretive frameworks different from other kinds of sociological research that strictly rely on the scientific method?
interpretive framework = an approach that involves detailed understanding of a particular subject through observation, not through hypothesis testing
Rather than formulating a hypothesis and method for testing it, an interpretive researcher will develop approaches to explore the topic at hand that may involve a significant amount of direct observation or interaction with subjects including storytelling
According to Weber, what was the relationship between Protestantism and capitalism?
Beliefs associated with the Protestant Ethic helped capitalism emerge and make it morally acceptable
How do we interact with and view in-groups vs. out-groups?
Favoritism towards in-groups. People also take credit for the successes of other in-group members. People remember more positive than negative information about in-groups
View out-groups as homogenous. Fewer interactions with out-groups. Quality of interaction more superficial.
Provide 3 careers associated with sociology
Social work, marketing, research, government, education, counseling, human resources, etc.
Provide an example of a macro level research question and a micro level research question
Macro - What is the relationship between economic recession and rates of college enrollment?
Micro - How do family relationships change when a parent is incarcerated?
What were the four kinds of alienation that Marx described?
Alienation from the product of one’s labor
Alienation from the process of one’s labor
Alienation from others
Alienation from oneself
What are the two perspectives on the relationship between culture and social class?
Homology Argument = states that consumption patterns and cultural tastes are associated with specific occupations and class fractions
Individualization Argument = a postmodern perspective arguing that consumption patterns are no longer determined by class
Define sociological imagination and provide an example
Seeing our own and other people’s behavior in relationship to history and social structure
Example: Code of the Streets, Debutante Balls, "Tiger Parenting"
Provide an example of an unethical social science research study that we discussed in class. Why was it unethical?
Tuskegee Experiment
Henrietta Lacks
Milgram Experiment
Zimbardo and the Stanford Prison Experiment
Laud Humphreys
What are the basic tenets of postcolonial theory?
Empire, colonialism, and imperialism matter because these processes shaped and continue to shape societies across the globe
Empire, colonialism, and imperialism should be critiqued
What are the features of bureaucracy?
Systematic division of labor - clear who does what
Promotion and selection based on professional or technical competence
Hierarchy
Formal, written rules that guide decision making
Recordkeeping on decisions, rules, and other organizational activities