1. The Science of studying society
Sociology
The Science of studying society

2. Social Static- study of social stability
Social Dynamic- study of social change

3. Conflict Perspective- emphasis is on competition, change and constraint within society
Functional Perspective- looks at the contribution of each part of society (family, economy, religion, etc.)
Symbolic Interaction Perspective- focuses on the interaction of people based on mutually understood symbols
Theoretical Perspective- set of assumption about an area of study

4. Independent Variable A character that causes something to occur
The independent variable brings about change.

5. Dependent Variable A character that reflects the change
It is dependent on the independent variable.
Reflects the change from the independent variable

6. Quantitative Variable
Can be measured numerically

7. Survey People respond to questions It is usually done independently
Less chance of lying

8. Interview
A survey method in which the researcher asks question and records responses

9. Sample

10. Representative Sample
Whole Population

11. Open Ended Question Closed Ended Question
What is your opinion of the state of education today?
Closed Ended Question
Education today is in need of total reform
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Agree
Strongly Disagree
Neutral

12. Ethnography- the study of Ethnicities
Texas Youth 2002

13. Case Study- investigative study of a group, incident or community

14. Field Research

15. Participant Observation- the researcher becomes part of the group

16. Auguste Comte 1798-1857 Known as the “Father of Sociology”
Used the scientific method to identify what holds society together (positivism)
Comte was more of a social philosopher than a true sociologist
Thought that the study of society could bring about social reform

17. Harriet Martineau 1802-1876 First female sociologist
“when one studies a society, one must focus on all its aspects, including key political, religious, and social institutions”

18. Herbert Spencer 1820-1903 Compared Social Stability to the human body
Used ideas of Charles Darwin and thought that only the fittest societies survived (Social Darwinism)

19. Karl Marx
Believed that the engine of human history is class conflict and economics as a force for social change
Society was a battle of the have’s (bourgeoisie) against the have not’s (proletariat)
Struggle could only end through revolution when the workers defeated the capitalists
The result would be a classless society where people will work according to their abilities and receive according to their needs

20. Emile Durkheim 1858-1917 Studied how social forces effect behavior
Identified social integration, how people are influenced by their social group, effected peoples behavior.
Human behavior can’t be understood on individualistic terms, it must always be examined with the effects of social forces

21. Max Weber 1864-1920 Studied religion as a force for social change
Human beings act on the basis of their own understanding of the situation
Sociologist must discover personal meaning, values, beliefs and attitudes
Verstehen- put yourself in the place of others in order to better understand their world

22. Jane Addams 1860-1935 US women social reformer
Women had a responsibility to clean up their communities and make them better places to live, arguing they needed the vote to be effective
Role model for middle-class women

23. WEB Dubois
African-American who studied sociology and race relations
Sociology he used was not theoretical but for social reform
Studies led him to write books on social reform in America