Definitions & Examples Sociology John J. Macionis
Chapter 1 the Sociological perspective
1.1 Explain how the sociological perspective differs from common sense
Sociology = the systematic study of human society
Society = people who live in a defined territory and share a way
of life
Sociological perspective = sociology’s special point of view that sees general
patterns of society in the lives of particular people
- Ex. 1: society guides us to whom we get married; social class, race etc.
- Ex. 2: society links university to people between the age of 18-30
- Ex. 3: university is expensive, so people coming off from wealthy families are more
likely to go to college than others
- Ex.4: child-bearing; women who have access to limited resources; education,
economic opportunities etc.
1.2 State several reasons that a global perspective is important in today’s world
Global perspective = the study of the larger world and our society’s place in
it
High-income countries = the nations with the highest overall standards of living
Middle-income countries = nations with a standard of living about average for the
world as a whole
Low-income countries = nations with a low standard of living in which most
people are poor
- Ex. 1: new technology allows people around the world to share trends
- Ex. 2: immigration from around the world increases the diversity
- Ex. 3: trade across national boundaries has created a global economy
1.3 Identify the advantages of sociological thinking for developing public policy, for
encouraging personal growth and for advancing in a career
Advantages of sociological thinking on the topics:
Public policy
Personal growth
1) Helps us asses the truth of “common sense”
2) Helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives
3) Empowers us to be active participants in our society
4) Helps us live in a diverse; encourages us to think critically about the relative
strengths and weaknesses of all ways of life, including our own
Career
- Ex. 1: Weitzman’s (1985, 1996) research showed that divorced women experience a
big decrease in income, therefore states passed laws that increased women’s
claims and obligated fathers to pay child support
- Ex. 2: perspective makes us rethink common sense ideas about other people and
their work, regarding to personal achievements (considered successful)
, 1.4 Link the origin of sociology to historical social changes
Three social changes that are important for the development of sociology
1) A new industrial economy; manufacturing
2) The growth of cities; enclosure movement
3) Political change; personal liberty, individual rights
Comte’s three stage historical development
1) Theological stage church, religious view
2) Metaphysical stage more natural, enlightenment
3) Scientific stage modern physics and new approach (positivism)
Positivism = a scientific approach to knowledge based on “positive”
facts as opposed to mere speculation
1.5 Summarize sociology’s major theoretical approaches
Theory = a statement of how and why specific facts are related
Theoretical approach = a basic image of society that guides thinking and
research
Structural-functional appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as a
complex system whose parts work together to promote
solidarity and stability
Social structure = any relatively stable pattern of social behaviour
Social functions = the consequences of any social pattern for the
operation of society as a whole
Merton recognized:
Manifest functions = the recognized and intended consequences of any
social pattern
Latent functions = the unrecognized and unintended consequences of
any social pattern
Social dysfunction = any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of
society
Social-conflict appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as an
arena of inequality that generates conflict and change
Gender-conflict theory = the study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between women and men
Feminism = support of social equality for women and men
Race-conflict theory = the study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between people of different racial and ethnic
categories
Macro-level orientation = a broad focus on social structures that shape society
as a whole
Micro-level orientation = a close-up focus on social interaction in specific
situations
Symbolic-interaction appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as
the product of the everyday interactions of individuals
1.6 Apply the approaches on the topic sport
Stereotype = a simplified description applied to every person in
some category
Chapter 2 Sociological investigation
Chapter 1 the Sociological perspective
1.1 Explain how the sociological perspective differs from common sense
Sociology = the systematic study of human society
Society = people who live in a defined territory and share a way
of life
Sociological perspective = sociology’s special point of view that sees general
patterns of society in the lives of particular people
- Ex. 1: society guides us to whom we get married; social class, race etc.
- Ex. 2: society links university to people between the age of 18-30
- Ex. 3: university is expensive, so people coming off from wealthy families are more
likely to go to college than others
- Ex.4: child-bearing; women who have access to limited resources; education,
economic opportunities etc.
1.2 State several reasons that a global perspective is important in today’s world
Global perspective = the study of the larger world and our society’s place in
it
High-income countries = the nations with the highest overall standards of living
Middle-income countries = nations with a standard of living about average for the
world as a whole
Low-income countries = nations with a low standard of living in which most
people are poor
- Ex. 1: new technology allows people around the world to share trends
- Ex. 2: immigration from around the world increases the diversity
- Ex. 3: trade across national boundaries has created a global economy
1.3 Identify the advantages of sociological thinking for developing public policy, for
encouraging personal growth and for advancing in a career
Advantages of sociological thinking on the topics:
Public policy
Personal growth
1) Helps us asses the truth of “common sense”
2) Helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives
3) Empowers us to be active participants in our society
4) Helps us live in a diverse; encourages us to think critically about the relative
strengths and weaknesses of all ways of life, including our own
Career
- Ex. 1: Weitzman’s (1985, 1996) research showed that divorced women experience a
big decrease in income, therefore states passed laws that increased women’s
claims and obligated fathers to pay child support
- Ex. 2: perspective makes us rethink common sense ideas about other people and
their work, regarding to personal achievements (considered successful)
, 1.4 Link the origin of sociology to historical social changes
Three social changes that are important for the development of sociology
1) A new industrial economy; manufacturing
2) The growth of cities; enclosure movement
3) Political change; personal liberty, individual rights
Comte’s three stage historical development
1) Theological stage church, religious view
2) Metaphysical stage more natural, enlightenment
3) Scientific stage modern physics and new approach (positivism)
Positivism = a scientific approach to knowledge based on “positive”
facts as opposed to mere speculation
1.5 Summarize sociology’s major theoretical approaches
Theory = a statement of how and why specific facts are related
Theoretical approach = a basic image of society that guides thinking and
research
Structural-functional appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as a
complex system whose parts work together to promote
solidarity and stability
Social structure = any relatively stable pattern of social behaviour
Social functions = the consequences of any social pattern for the
operation of society as a whole
Merton recognized:
Manifest functions = the recognized and intended consequences of any
social pattern
Latent functions = the unrecognized and unintended consequences of
any social pattern
Social dysfunction = any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of
society
Social-conflict appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as an
arena of inequality that generates conflict and change
Gender-conflict theory = the study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between women and men
Feminism = support of social equality for women and men
Race-conflict theory = the study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between people of different racial and ethnic
categories
Macro-level orientation = a broad focus on social structures that shape society
as a whole
Micro-level orientation = a close-up focus on social interaction in specific
situations
Symbolic-interaction appr. = a framework for building theory that sees society as
the product of the everyday interactions of individuals
1.6 Apply the approaches on the topic sport
Stereotype = a simplified description applied to every person in
some category
Chapter 2 Sociological investigation
