sociology - Answers the systematic study of human society
sociological perspective - Answers sociology's special point of view that sees general patterns of society
in the lives of particular people
global perspective - Answers the study of the larger world and our society's place in it
high-income countries - Answers nations with the highest overall standards of living
middle-income countries - Answers nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a
whole
low-income countries - Answers nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor
positivism - Answers a scientific approach to knowledge based on positive facts as opposed to mere
speculation
theory - Answers a statement of how and why specific facts are related
theoretical approach - Answers a basic image of society that guides thinking and research
structural-functional approach - Answers a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex
system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
social structure - Answers any relatively stable pattern of social behavior
social functions - Answers the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole
manifest functions - Answers the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern
latent functions - Answers the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern
social dysfunction - Answers any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society
social-conflict approach - Answers a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of
inequality that generates conflict and change
gender-conflict theory - Answers the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between
men and women
feminism - Answers support of social equality for men and women
race-conflict theory - Answers the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between
people of different racial and ethnic change
macro-level orientation - Answers a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole
, micro-level orientation - Answers a close-up focus on social interaction is specific situations
symbolic-interaction approach - Answers a framework for building theory that sees society as the
product of the everyday interactions of individuals
sterotype - Answers a simplified description applied to every person in some category
positivist sociology - Answers the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior
concept - Answers a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form
variable - Answers a concept whose value changes from case to case
measurement - Answers a procedure for determining the value of a variable in a specific case
operationalize a variable - Answers specifying exactly what to be measured before assigning a value to a
variable
reliability - Answers consistency in measurement
cause and effect - Answers a relationship in which change in one variable causes a change in another
independent variable - Answers the variable the causes the change
dependent variable - Answers the variable that changes
correlation - Answers a relationship in which two or more variable change together
spurious correlation - Answers an apparent but false relationship between two or more variables that is
caused by some other variable
control - Answers holding constant all variables except one in order to see clearly the effect of that
variable
objectivity - Answers personal neutrality in conducting research
replication - Answers repetition of research by other investigators
interpretive sociology - Answers the study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to the
world
critical sociology - Answers the study of society that focuses on the need for social change
gender - Answers the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being
female or male
research method - Answers a systematic plan for doing research