Introduction to Sociology 08 27 2014 I Sociology Systematic study of how seen and unseen social forces shape our lives It is the study of group dynamics social structures and human society relations performing a special role A group of social positions connected by social II Social Institution a Human constructions which reproduce themselves over time and shape the behavior of the groups of people in it i Ex Family Government Economy Education Religion I Sociological Imagination a C Wright Mills 1916 1962 b The ability to connect our personal lives experiences a d troubles to public issues the ability to situate our micro experiences within the macro context True i Understand how the larger historical context shapes individual c Allows us to experience II Consumption 1 90 of things we consume are trashed within 6 months b Planned Obsolescence i Manufacturing objects to break c Perceived Obsolescence i New and desire the new ii Value is in owning stuff iii Happiness through consuming Theory and Methods 08 27 2014 Theory I Major Sociological Paradigms a Functionalism Macro b Symbolic Interactionism Micro c Conflict Theory Macro i Paradigm Way of looking at something a specific theoretical framework a perspective to work from General statement about how some parts of the world fit together II Theory and work III Father of Functionalism Emile Durkheim 1858 1917 a Major Intellectual Focus b Major Contributions i Sought to understand the systematic integration of society i Solidarity Anomie Collective Consciousness c Functionalism Theory that various social institutions and processes in society exist to serve some important or necessary function to keep society running i All social phenomena was subject to functionalist analysis by asking 1 What is the function of d The Division of Labor in Society 1893 i Key Concepts 1 Solidarity Sentiments which held together society which he described as a moral phenomenon a Different societies were characterized by two different forms of solidarity i Mechanical Solidarity Simple societies where people were more alike and performed similar tasks characterized by increased division of labor and role diversity Industrial societies ii Organic Solidarity 2 Anomie Chaos and normlessness context of social dislocation where customary and cultural controls were not very strong e Elementary Forms of Religious Life 1912 i Key Concepts 1 Collective Conscience common to individuals within a society Totality of beliefs and sentiments 2 Religion in society were characterized by the presence of two dualities a Sacred b Profane High valued Average everyday mundane i A good example is not letting the American flag sacred touch the ground profane IV Father of Conflict Karl Marx 1818 1883 a Major Intellectual Focus i Sought to understand systems of relations as they were mediated by modes of production i Forces and Relations to Production Class Alienation Class c The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts 1844 b Major Contributions Consciousness i Key Concepts 1 Modes of Production 2 Bourgeois 3 Proletariats Combination of the means and relations of production Those who control the means of production Class of industrial wage earners who possess neither capital or nor means of production foreign to the products of their labor Process whereby workers are made to feel 4 Alienation d Conflict Theory i Theory of Historical Materialism primary cause of social change Identifies class conflict as the ii Conflict Theory A Macro level theory that promotes the idea that conflict between competing interests is the basic animating force of social change and society in general Competition exists because society s necessary resources are scarce V Father of Interpretative Sociology Max Weber 1864 1920 a Major Intellectual Focus i Sought to understand systems human action b Major Contributions i Social Action Authority and Domination Class and Status and Wealth Rationalization Iron Cage c The Types of Legitimate Domination 1925 i Key Concepts 1 Legitimate Domination basis of a specific legitimacy claim Authority that is followed on the a Three types of legitimate domination i Legal Authority ii Traditional Authority Emphasizing the role of law procedure and efficiency as standards Based on the idea that things should be as they have always been belief that a ruler possesses exceptional powers or some kind of divine gift d The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism 1904 iii Charismatic Authority Organized around the i Key Concepts 1 Rationalization efficient pursuit of goals Action that is geared toward the a Increase rationalization in modernity produces the iron cage 2 The Iron Cage traps individuals in systems based purely on efficiency calculation and control a Erving Goffman 1922 1982 b Dramaturgy is a sociological perspective starting from symbolic interactionism and commonly used in microsociological accounts of social interaction in everyday life VI Dramaturgy c The Microsociological Perspective i Symbolic Interaction meanings orientations and assumptions form the basic motivations behind people s actions A micro level theory in which shared d Dramaturgy Erving Goffman i Dramaturgy Theory A micro level theory in which social life is perceived to be a theatrical performance Individuals are all social actors on metaphorical stages with roles scripts sets and props VII Jean Baudrillard Postmodernism a Simulacra Origins of reality Without there being a real i Fragmented Lacking Context Research Methods VIII Research 101 a Research Methods b Approach i Social Research Question that you seek to answer through the collection and analysis of firsthand verifiable empirical data A question about the social world i Deductive Approach A research approach that starts with a theory forms a hypothesis makes empirical observations and then analyzes the data to confirm reject or modify the original theory Inductive Approach empirical observations and then works to form a theory A research approach that starts with ii c Method i Quantitative Methods Methods that seek to obtain information about the social world that is already in or can be converted to numeric form Relies on deductive approach 1 Terminology a Hypothesis A proposed relationship between two variables that is tested in the research process researcher is trying to explain The outcome the b Dependent Variable DV i Pregnancy Rates c Independent Variables IV that the researcher believes has a casual impact on the DV A measured