Define These Sociology Terms Flashcards

C. Wright Mills
An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society.
The ability to view one's society as an outsider would

W.E.B. Du Bois
Division of individual's identity into two or more social roles

Emphasizes the way parts of society are structured to maintain its stability

Institutions are open, stated, conscious functions that involve intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of society
Example: University's role in certifying academic competence and excellence

Unintended or hidden functions of institutions
Example: University's role to hold down unemployment and to serve as a meeting group for people seeking martial partners

Keyword: Inequality (haves and have-nots)

Generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction (interpreting symbols and constructing meaning)
Construction of reality

Interactionist Perspective
Erving Goffman
People are seen as theatrical performers

Explanation of an abstract concept that is specific enough to allow researchers to assess the concept

Speculative statement about the relationship between two or more factors, known as variables
Example: the higher one's educational degree the more money one will earn

Variable hypothesized to cause or influence another

Action depends on the influence of the independent variable

When every member of a population has the same chance of being selected

Degree to which the measure reflects the phenomenon being studied

Sociologist joins group to get accurate sens of how it operates