STUDY GUIDE
for
MIDTERM, Spring 08
SOCIOLOGY 201
The midterm will consist of multiple choice and matching questions which test your familiarity with lecture content and the textbook, your knowledge of sociological terminology, and your mastery of basic concepts. There will also be a choice of short essay questions.
Remember to bring a scantron, a #2 pencil, and blank paper .
TERMS/CONCEPTS TO KNOW :
CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGY/MAJOR PARADIGMS :
Emile Durkheim : What did Durkheim mean by anomie? How did he influence structural functionalism?
Max Weber : What did he mean by rationalization? How did he view bureaucracies? What kind of world did he think we are creating?
Karl Marx : What did he mean by the "haves" and the "have nots" (bourgeoisie and proletariat)? What were his major criticisms of capitalism and the factory system? How did he influence conflict theory?
W.E.B. Dubois: What were some of his contributions to sociology? To American society? What did he mean by "double consciousness"?
Jane Addams: What issues were of concern to her? What kind of sociology did she inspire?
Functionalism : What assumptions do functionalists make about social life? What do they mean by "function"?
Social conflict theory : In general, how do conflict theorists view society? What motivations do they attribute to people and to groups? What does a conflict theorist look for when doing research?
Interpretive sociology/Symbolic Interactionism : What types of phenomena interest interpretive sociologists? How do they think we develop a sense of self?
Sociological Imagination
Your response: Which of the paradigms do you find most convincing, and why? Which of the early sociologists do you find most interesting, and why?
METHODS :
Know the major methods and some of the advantages and disadvantages of employing each: surveys, experiments, ethnography/ fieldwork, observation/participant observation, comparative research, use of existing data, content analysis, interviews.
Know the difference between quantitative and qualitative methods.
Be able to identify: a control group, an experimental group, an independent variable, and a dependent variable;
Be aware of some of the ethical issues associated with sociological research. (e.g. Tearoom Trade)
CULTURE :
What is culture? Be familiar with the many ways to look at culture: (1) as behaviors that serve to adapt a human community to an ecological setting (2) As a system of recipes and knowledge, (3) As a system of symbols (myths, narratives, language, dress, gestures, body language, rituals etc.), (4) as beliefs and values imposed/perpetuated by those in power.
What are ethnocentrism and cultural relativism? Subcultures and countercultures?
How would you define culture? What did you learn from our "cross cultural exercises" in class?
Globalization/nationalism - what is it; what are some of the forces that produce a global culture; what impact is globalization having on local cultures?
SOCIALIZATION:
What is socialization? What is secondary (adult) socialization.
What is resocialization? What might be some examples?
What did social scientists learn from Genie?
What did Cooley mean by the "Looking Glass Self"?
What stages do children go through in developin a sense of self according to G.H. Mead?
What are rites of passage?
What did Mead mean by "taking the role of the other"?
What are some of the major agents of socialization?
What is a social role? A social status?
How do sociologists view the relative significance of nature and nurture?
Gender socialization - see pages 101-107, but ignore Freud. You can learn Chodorow and Gilligan for extra credit.
atements Test?
Compare the approaches
of functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists to the
study of socialization.
SOCIAL INTERACTION:
Acheived and ascribed statuses
Back and front regions
Impression management
Society as drama
Nonverbal communication
"The constructed nature of social reality"
SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Which of the sociological paradigms appeal to you? (e.g. functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, postmodernism) Why? What are some of the major assumptions that a sociologist using that paradigm(s) is likely to make?
2. Choose one of the early sociologists and discuss some of that sociologist's major ideas.
3. Choose one quantitative and one qualitative method. Describe what it is, name some of the benefits of using this approach, and cite an example of its use if possible.
4. Contrast quantitative and qualitative research methods. How do they differ? What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of each?
5. Discuss some of the ethical issues associated with research in the social and behavioral sciences. Cite examples. 5. 6. Define, explain the significance, and cite examples of 5 of the following: anomie; globalization; control group; taking the role of the other; sociological imagination; Tea Room Trade; subculture; cultural relativism; material culture; resocialization.
7. How would you define culture? What types of behavior are included? What did you learn/notice in the course of our in-class exercise? What are the most interesting things that you have learned about culture in this class? (You may include student presentations.)
8. Discuss your own experience of socialization using either (a) a rite of passage, (b) 2 agents of socialization, or (3) an experience of resocialization.
9. Compare functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist approaches to the study of socialization.
10. Choose a concept, issue, or idea that we have covered in class or readings that is of particular interest to you. Explain what it is, why it is of interest to you, and some of the implications of this idea.
Extra Credit - to be written at home and brought to class on the day of the midterm: Think of one aspect of social life that really puzzles or troubles you. Now that you've had some sociology, what explanations do you have for these troubling aspects of social life? Tie your answer to topics covered in class.