Download The Master List of Sociology Terms

Sociology
UNIT ONE – Sociological Foundations & Research
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Sociology – the systematic study of human society and social behaviors
Social phenomena – an observable fact or event that involves human society
Sociological perspective/theory – a systematic method of viewing the behavior of
groups
Social Location - the collection of social demographics (race, economic class,
gender, education, sexual orientation, etc.) and how those relate to the rest
of your community
Worldview - the assumptions and biases that shape the way you come to
understand the world around you
Sociological imagination – the ability to see connections between the larger world and our personal lives
Macro-sociology – an approach to the study of sociology that emphasizes the analysis of social systems and
populations on a large scale, at the level of social structure
Micro-sociology – an approach to the study of sociology that emphasizes the nature of everyday human social
interactions on a small scale
Social Darwinism – a theoretical perspective in which societies evolve toward stability and perfection through
survival-of-the-fittest
Bourgeoisie – owners of the means of production in a capitalist society (i.e. middle class, management)
Proletariat – workers in a capitalist society; sell labor for wages
Function – the consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of its social system (i.e.
religion as a means of maintaining social order)
Verstehen – an empathetic understanding of the meaning that others attach to their actions, as discussed by
Max Weber
Structural-Functionalist Perspective – a theoretical perspective that views society as a set of interrelated parts
that work together to produce a stable social system
Social Institutions -The structures and mechanisms of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a
set of individuals within a given human collectivity
Dysfunction – the negative consequence that an element has for the stability of its social system; creates
disruption, not stability (i.e. crime)
Manifest function – the intended and recognized consequence of some element of society
Latent function – the unintended and unrecognized consequence of some element of society
Conflict Perspective – a theoretical perspective that focuses inequality and forces in society that promote
competition and change
Symbolic-Interactionist Perspective – a theoretical perspective that focuses on how individuals interact with
one another in society
Hypothesis – a testable prediction and/or statement
Independent variable – a variable that causes a change in another variable
Dependent variable – a variable that is changed by an independent variable
Population – the entire group of people who are the focus of the research/study
Sample – a group of people who are selected from a given population to participate in a scientific study
Quantitative Research – research that focuses on data that can be measured numerically
Qualitative Research – research that focuses on interpretive descriptions & direct observation
Correlation – the shared relationship the one variable has with another
Causation – a relationship in which a change in one variable (the IV) causes a change in another (DV)
Social Psychology - the study of the interaction between between people, groups, and social structures
Motivation – Influences that account for initiation, direction, intensity & persistence of behavior
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS & STANDARDS
Essential Question: Why is developing sociological imagination important in the study of sociology?
SSSocFR1: Students will explain the origins of sociology and the sociological perspective, and how sociology relates
to the other social sciences.
a. Explain sociology, sociological perspective, and the sociological imagination.
b. Describe the origins of sociology as a social science and the significance of its historical framework.
c. Explain the relationship of sociology to the other social sciences.
d. Identify careers where sociological knowledge is applicable.
Essential Question: How can society be viewed through various theoretical perspectives?
SSSocFR3: Students will explain the major theoretical perspectives in sociology.
a. Explain and apply the theoretical perspectives of Structural Functionalism, Symbolic Interaction, and
Conflict Theory.
b. Compare and evaluate the theoretical perspectives of Structural Functionalism, Symbolic Interaction, and
Conflict Theory.
Essential Question: What do sociologists study and how do they study it?
SSSocFR2: Students will explain the research methodologies used in sociology.
a. Identify the major research methods used in sociology.
b. Explain how various methods are used to conduct research in sociology.
c. Evaluate the strengths and weakness of the methods of sociology research
d. Explain the importance and influence of ethics in guiding research and data collection in sociology.
Essential Question: What motivates people to act the way they do?
In addition to the above standards, we will study Social Psychology - Motivation.