Term | Definition |
Sociological Imagination | Link between social forces and individual personal experiences. |
Sociology | Scientific study of patterns of human society |
Microsociology | Study small groups face-to-face |
Macrosociology | Study large groups |
Theory | Statements of propositions that seeks to explain or predict a particular aspect of social life. |
Paradigm | Particular approach to the study of some parts of life. |
Phenomena | A model of the thing under study that includes a set of assumptions about nature of that theory. |
Social Structure | Patterns of social relationships and social institutions that comprise society. |
Social Institutions | An established and organized system of social behavior with a purpose |
Operational Definitions | Explanations for abstract ideas |
Conceptual Definitions | Explanations using concepts to define other concepts. |
Hypothesis | A speculative statement about the relationship between 2 or more factors. |
Variables | A measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions. |
Independent | Causes or influences another variable |
Dependent | Affected by independent |
Qualitative research | Interpretive research seeks to understand from the point of view of te researched and phenomena. |
Quantitative research | Approach that relies on gathering facts and figures, sometimes uses existing data. |
Hawthorne Effect | People act differently when they know they are being observed. |
Culture | The complex system of meaning and behavior that defines that way of life for a given group or society. |
Material | Includes all things that humans make or adapt from raw stuff of nature. |
Artifacts | Things made by humans that make up material culture. |
Symbols | Anything that represents something else to more than one person. Stands for something other than itself. |
Language | Made up of symbols with rules for use |
Norms | Rules concerning behavior and sanctions. |
Values | General or abstract ideas about what is good and desirable as opposed to what is bad or undesirable. |
Beliefs | Shared ideas held collectively by people with in a given culture. |
Ascribed | Assigned to a person by society with out regard for persons unique talents or character. |