SSC 220 EXAM 3 2024-2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A++
what are the social sciences?
a way to understand humans in complex social environments
what does it mean that social science is empirical, logical, provisional?
it's based on observation, follows tools, and is tentative (not set in stone)
why is our understanding of social science always incomplete? (2)
we never have all the information,
we can't see the big picture
what does it mean that social science is modern?
it emerged in a modern timeframe, so has inherited assumptions from a modern perspective, i.e.
that humans are at the centre
what does it mean that social science is limited?
science is one of many ways of knowing things
what is the tension between understanding and changing the social world
knowing the world requires research, changing the world requires looking at the roots of problems
and finding solutions
are the social sciences really science? (explain why and why not)
yes: uses the same logical methods as natural sciences
no: can't find any laws
How does the biblical narrative of wonder, lament, and hope shape how a Christian views the social
sciences?
Wonder: social scientist marvel at God’s good creation and at what humans have made of it
,Lament: social scientists are heartbroken at the many ways that humans have turned God’s
goodness into misery for so many. Engage, see, act/emphasize
Hope: our hope rests in what God has done, is doing, and will do. Justice is part of God’s project of
restoration of brokenness, where he makes all things new and right
what are the four secular ways of understanding justice?
libertarian, liberal, utilitarian, postmodern
libertarian
justice is about freedom
liberal
justice is about fairness
utilitarian
justice is about happiness
postmodern
justice is about power
Keller's four characteristics of biblical justice
1. universal equality 2. life-changing advocacy 3. radical generosity 4. asymmetrical responsibility
three levels of theory in social science
macro/grand, microtheories, data/observations
macro/grand theories
broad approaches/perspectives, too big to test
microtheories
specific statements explaining how variables are related based on empirical observations
data/observations
specific research studies which involved empirical observations
, August Comte
coined the term "sociology" as a study of science, optimistic that science can change the world
Harriet Martineau
Translated Comte into English, optimistic about potential for sociology to improve life
Herbert Spencer
extended Darwin's theories to social life
karl Marx
emphasized economic theory conflict between two classes (those with and without resources)
Emile Durkheim
studied suicide, modern day founder of sociology and structural functionalism
Max Weber
focused on underlying meanings and interpretations specifically in organizations
three broad theoretical perspectives in sociology
structural functionalism, symbolic interaction, conflict theory
structural functionalism
society works like a machine
symbolic interaction
begins with a person's interpretation of how they fit in a social context
conflict theory
society is in a state of constant conflict because of competing for limited resources; the powerless
vs. the powerful
how are the social sciences both theoretical and empirical
theoretical: road map to inquiry
empirical: involves variables, explanations, etc.
what is a variable? what is an attribute?
V: anything that changes
A: characteristics of a variable that can be assigned a specific variable
AND ANSWERS GRADED A++
what are the social sciences?
a way to understand humans in complex social environments
what does it mean that social science is empirical, logical, provisional?
it's based on observation, follows tools, and is tentative (not set in stone)
why is our understanding of social science always incomplete? (2)
we never have all the information,
we can't see the big picture
what does it mean that social science is modern?
it emerged in a modern timeframe, so has inherited assumptions from a modern perspective, i.e.
that humans are at the centre
what does it mean that social science is limited?
science is one of many ways of knowing things
what is the tension between understanding and changing the social world
knowing the world requires research, changing the world requires looking at the roots of problems
and finding solutions
are the social sciences really science? (explain why and why not)
yes: uses the same logical methods as natural sciences
no: can't find any laws
How does the biblical narrative of wonder, lament, and hope shape how a Christian views the social
sciences?
Wonder: social scientist marvel at God’s good creation and at what humans have made of it
,Lament: social scientists are heartbroken at the many ways that humans have turned God’s
goodness into misery for so many. Engage, see, act/emphasize
Hope: our hope rests in what God has done, is doing, and will do. Justice is part of God’s project of
restoration of brokenness, where he makes all things new and right
what are the four secular ways of understanding justice?
libertarian, liberal, utilitarian, postmodern
libertarian
justice is about freedom
liberal
justice is about fairness
utilitarian
justice is about happiness
postmodern
justice is about power
Keller's four characteristics of biblical justice
1. universal equality 2. life-changing advocacy 3. radical generosity 4. asymmetrical responsibility
three levels of theory in social science
macro/grand, microtheories, data/observations
macro/grand theories
broad approaches/perspectives, too big to test
microtheories
specific statements explaining how variables are related based on empirical observations
data/observations
specific research studies which involved empirical observations
, August Comte
coined the term "sociology" as a study of science, optimistic that science can change the world
Harriet Martineau
Translated Comte into English, optimistic about potential for sociology to improve life
Herbert Spencer
extended Darwin's theories to social life
karl Marx
emphasized economic theory conflict between two classes (those with and without resources)
Emile Durkheim
studied suicide, modern day founder of sociology and structural functionalism
Max Weber
focused on underlying meanings and interpretations specifically in organizations
three broad theoretical perspectives in sociology
structural functionalism, symbolic interaction, conflict theory
structural functionalism
society works like a machine
symbolic interaction
begins with a person's interpretation of how they fit in a social context
conflict theory
society is in a state of constant conflict because of competing for limited resources; the powerless
vs. the powerful
how are the social sciences both theoretical and empirical
theoretical: road map to inquiry
empirical: involves variables, explanations, etc.
what is a variable? what is an attribute?
V: anything that changes
A: characteristics of a variable that can be assigned a specific variable
