OUTLINE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY/SOCIOLOGICAL METHODS
- Introduction to Sociology
- What are the major changes that lead to the creation of sociology?
- How do sociologists and psychologists differ in their explanations of human behavior?
- What is the key argument of the structural-functionalists?
- What is the key argument of conflict theorists?
- What is the key argument of symbolic interactionists?
- What does Mills mean by the "Sociological Imagination"?
- What are Karp’s two main arguments about depression?
- Methods of Sociological Research
- What is an independent variable? What is a dependent variable?
- What does it mean when variables are correlated? What is the difference between causation and correlation?
- What are the two basic types of research methods?
- What did Milgram do in his famous experiment and what were his key findings?
- What does the
- What is the difference between a population and a sample?
- Which is typically the most desirable type of sample (especially for research like voter polls)?
OUTLINE: Culture, Socialization, and the Interaction Process
- Culture and Norms
- What are the two key elements of a society’s culture? What is the significance of
“culture”?
- What is a symbol?
- What is the definition of a norm? What is the difference between a folkway and a more?
- What is meant by the term “cultural relativism”? According to Natadecha-Sponsel, what
are the key differences between Thai and American culture?
- What is a subculture? What is a counterculture? What is the difference between the two?
- Socialization Process and Interaction
- What do sociologists mean by the term socialization?
- What are children like when they are subjected to near total isolation?
- According to symbolic interactionists like Mead, what are the key stages in an individual’s “acquisition of self”?
- What are the three major stages of role-taking?
- What is meant by the term “the generalized other”?
- What does Cooley mean by the term “looking-glass self”?
- What do symbolic interactionists mean by the term “impression management”?
- What is the difference between the “front stage” and the “back stage”?
- What is meant by the term “spoiled identity”?
- What is a stigma?
- What are the different ways that people respond to being stigmatized?
- According to Nussbaum, how does the existence of online culture affect the way young
people are socialized in modern society?
ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 1ST TEST
1. Summarize the fundamental arguments of structural functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists. Describe what Mills meant when he talked about the “sociological imagination”. Then, provide your own example of the sociological imagination at work (but not one cited in the Schaefer chapter).
2. Describe the different stages in the acquisition of the self. Be sure to talk about the three stages in role taking as well as the significance of the “generalized other”. What does the term “looking-glass self” refer to? Given your own experiences (and those of people you know very well), how much do you think the “looking glass self” shapes our individual identities? Explain.
3. How do sociologists characterize the process of socialization? Explain what sociologists mean when they talk about impression management. In your answer be sure to discuss the concepts of “front stage” and “back stage”. According to Nussbaum’s article, how has the creation of the internet, particularly social networking sites like myspace, facebook, etc., affected the socialization of American youth? Do you agree with Nussbaum’s main arguments? In particular, do you think that your attitudes towards online culture and public exposure are significantly different than your parents’? Elaborate.
Responsible for following readings on test:
Schaefer: Chapter 1 (pages 1-11, 14-30); Chapter 2 (pages 35-59, 63-67);
Syllabus, Natadecha-Sponsel (pages 77-83), Nussbaum (pages 1-11)
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