Famous Sociologists
This famous sociologist is considered "the father of sociology" because he coined that term. He believed that sociology was the pinnacle of the sciences.
Auguste Comte
This famous sociologist studied suicide. He believed that you could study suicide by looking at the dimensions of integration and regulation of individuals in society rather than personal reasons.
Emile Durkheim
Our physical modification of the natural environment to suit our purposes is known as what form of culture?
Material Culture
Who wrote The Sociological Imagination?
C. Wright Mills
In her methods book on sociological research, Harriet Martineau felt that you could study social life and social relations and social structures and modes of thinking and behaving everywhere. You read a chapter from this book...what setting or topic did she address to make this point?
She wrote the first sociological research methods book, How to Observe Morals and Manners.
Harriet Martineau
Matthew Desmond studies a critical social problem that affects Americans and is an increasingly urgent problem, during the pandemic.
Evictions and Mortgage Foreclosures
If Dr. Sanchez frowns when a student has a black video screen and does not respond to a question, she is applying what form of penalty for conduct concerning a social norm?
Negative Sanction/Informal negative sanction
The sociological imagination consists of your society, moment in history, and...
personal biography or life story.
Jonah Bromwich wrote a New York Times article about an important cultural clash that caused an enormous surge of physical conflict and verbal assault. What was that cultural clash?
People fighting over wearing masks in public.
He developed the idea of "anomie" which is the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior becomes ineffective.
Emile Durkheim
This type of research method does not use statistical methods, is more interpretive and nuanced, and richer in detail.
Qualitative Research Methods
The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of beliefs.
Culture Shock
What does C. Wright Mills consider to be the first fruit of a sociological imagination? The benefit...
A person can understand her own life chances by becoming aware of all those in similar circumstances.
Rainesford Stauffer wrote a New York Times piece about a new social media phenomenon that is a negative part of our digital dating environments. What problem did the article address?
Orbiting, or the phenomenon of breaking up with someone and they still get to "lurk" and follow your social media activities.
He developed the idea of Alienation which is the concept that people lose their humanity and creativity, if they cannot control how how they make products. They are separate from what they make and from their fellow workers.
Karl Marx
This type of research method uses statistical methods, allows for efficient comparisons, and provides data to calculate averages and percentages.
Quantitative
Name one of the four sources of cultural change
A change in societal conditions
Cultural diffusion
Innovation
Imposition of cultural change by an outside agency
C. Wright Mills said that it was important for sociologists to study the obstacles that individuals in similar positions face. In comparison to private troubles, he called the study of individuals facing similar circumstances...
Public Issues/Social Problems
In our Culture week, we watched a video that discussed the importance of culture and subcultural practices as a form of peaceful social protest. What was the subcultural form of protest that the video represented?
Drag Queen Balls, Parading as part of the BLM and Transgender LGBTQIIA+ movements
This scholar liked both Durkheim and Marx's work, but wanted to advance their thinking. He felt that the basic dimensions of society were political, economic, and cultural - class, party, status.
Max Weber
The PEW Research Center conducted a study to explore how Americans' felt about news coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic. Which two different sources of news did Democrats versus Republicans perceive as getting information right most or all of the time?
The CDC (76% of Democrats) vs the Trump Administration (54% of Republicans)
Norms are established standards of behavior maintained by society. What is the specific name of norms that govern our everyday behavior, like what we eat, wear, and generally do?
Folkways
For your final paper in this class, you are supposed to apply your sociological imaginations to what major public issue?
The Coronavirus Pandemic.
Jessica Calarco (2020) wrote an article about her research at a middle school. She followed children as they progressed from 3rd through 5th grade. Her qualitative and quantitative methods observed teachers, parents, and students. Who did she find teachers gave the most leniency toward, in terms of bypassing rules about late assignments, missing homework tardiness, and other minor infractions?
She found that teachers were much more likely to hold children from poorer families to the rules and standards than children from wealthier families, partly because wealthier parents were far more likely to complain to superiors, expect preferential treatment, and act as "helicopter" parents.