CHAPTER 1
1.01 Discuss the origins of sociology.
Development
Industrial Revolution—farms to economy based on large scale production—factory to
cities
Growth of Urban populations—Housing, crime, pollutions, impersonal nature
Individual liberty and rights became focus—American and French Revolutions
(Enlightenment)—Religious explanations of world to more practical ones
Original Sociologists
Auguste Comte—(1798-1857) One of first and coined term Sociologist—Causes of
French Revolution—Social order vs. social change—
Social dynamics—change through series of definite processes.—mostly refuted but order
and change still discussed.
Herbert Spencer-- 1820-1903—Influenced by Darwin—biological view of society—
independent parts that work together to maintain the system.—social change and unrest
natural in evolution—best parts of society would survive. (Social Darwinism)
Karl Marx—(1818-1883)—Social structure influenced by economy.bourgeoisie
(capitalist) and proletariat (workers)—imbalance would lead to conflict and classless
society.
Emile Durkheim—(1858-1917)—first university sociology course—first to apply
sociology to study of society—concerned with social order. Individual parts BUT parts had
functions. Functions—consequence that an element of society produces for the
maintenance of its social system. (religion and functionalist view)—institutions.—
observable phenomenon—suicide—first sociological study
Max Weber—1864-1920—separate groups in society instead of society as a whole.
Effects of society on the whole—Feelings and thoughts, not just observable. Verstehen—
understand meanings, not actions. Ideal Type—essential characteristics of a feature of
society.
1.02 Describe similarities and differences between sociology and the other social sciences.
Sociology--Study of human society and social behavior.
Social sciences—disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions in scientific
manner
Anthropology—study of past and present cultures—simple cultures—sociology is
complicated cultures (group behavior)
Psychology—behavior and thinking of organisms—individual behavior (natural sciences)—
social psychology—how environment affects behavior
Economics—choices people make in effort to satisfy needs and wants
Political science—organization and operation of governments
History—study of past events
1.03 Identify the relationship between the study of sociology, society, and culture.
1.03 Define and apply key concepts used in sociology to understand human society and
interaction.
1.04 Differentiate among the various sociological perspectives or theories on social life and
formulate a personal perspective.
Sociological perspective—look into the hidden meanings behind human actions—social
beings—social reality—understand conflict—view your own life in whole social and
historical context
Sociological imagination—C.Wright Mills—ability to see connection between the larger
world and your personal life
Theory—relationships among particular phenomena.
Theoretical perspectives—school of thought—set of assumptions about the nature of things.
Functionalist Perspective—set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a
stable social system. –society held together by consensus –view in terms of function in
society—functions of family and education—POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES.
Dysfunctional—negative consequence crime,
Manifest function—intended consequence of function
Latent function—unintended consequence.
Conflict perspective—focus on the forces that promote competition and change—power
holders in society—nonviolent competition between groups too—men and women—ages—
races—competition over scarce resources—power leads to rules leads to social change—social
change inevitable.
Internationalist perspective—how individuals interct with one another—how do people
respond to everyday situations—meaning people attach to their actions. Symbols are
important—anything that represents something else—gestures, words—salute
Symbolic interactions—how people use symbols during interaction—child
development, etc.
1.05 Differentiate among the various sociological research methods.
1.
The Historical Method—Examining any materials from the past that contain
information of sociological interest. Toys, clostes, pictures, tools, furniture.Usually
written documents
a. Learn about events
b. Study trends
c. Private feelings
2. Content Analysis—counting the times a word, phrase, idea, event, symbol or other
element appears
a. Recorded communications
b. Television, radio, sound recordings, movies, photographs, art, newspapers,
magazines, books
c. Easy and inexpensive
d. Simplified evaluation of data collection.
3. The Survey Method----collect data on attitudes and opinions from large numbers of
people—questionnaires and interviews
a. List of questions—in person or mail
b. Collect from large number of people in short time
c. Disadvantages—interpretations?
4. Observation—observe behavior of individuals in actual social settings
a. Detached observation—observe situation from distance—may miss details
b. Participant observation—directly involved in the situation under
investigation—anonymous or known—subjects usually act naturally.