C273 WGU WELL EXPLAINED NOTES
GOOD FOR REVISION
Auguste Comte (1797-1867)
Introduced positivism (the idea of applying scientific
methods to the social world) and coined the term
sociology and the founder of sociology. He believed that it
was necessary to observe and classify human behavior to
uncover society's fundamental laws.
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
Believed that no one should interfere with the evolution of
society. He did not conduct research but developed ideas
about society. Idea that society evolves from lower to
higher forms.
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Believed that the root cause of all misery in society was
class conflict—the exploitation of the working classes by
those who were wealthy and owned the means of
production.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Found through his studies that the rate of suicide was
higher among people whose ties with their communities
were weak.
Max Weber (1864-1920)
Believed that religion was the central force in society. He
used cross-cultural and historical materials to trace the
causes of social change.
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
,Founded the Hull House in the Chicago slums and
welcomed people who were poor, sick, and needy. She
worked to implement the eight-hour workday and to
abolish child labor. Social Reform
W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963)
Combined sociology and social reform. He spent his
lifetime studying the relations between African-Americans
and Whites. Race relations.
Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)
Abstract models for sociology
Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)
Social research
basic sociology
research into the behaviors of people in a social
environment. It provides knowledge about that society and
those people.
applied sociology
takes the knowledge found by basic sociology and uses it
to bring about social change.
Symbolic interactionism
social life is based on symbols; things to which we attach
meaning. Thus, symbolic meanings a society attaches to
relationships, various behaviors, and actions simplify
communication and enable the individual or group to
define who and what they are, and to understand the
importance of specific behaviors and events.
Functional analysis
society is viewed as a unit of interrelated parts that must
function together.
Conflict theory
, society is seen as being made up of competing groups
vying for scarce resources. Although alliances and
cooperation might seem to exist, there is an underlying
struggle for power at all times.
List the primary ways in which sociologists do
research
Surveys, Participant observation, Secondary analysis,
Documents, Experiments, Unobtrusive methods
Surveys
Collection of data by having people answer questions,
such as in graduate satisfaction surveys and employee
satisfaction surveys.
Participant Observation
The researcher participates in a research setting while
observing what is happening there.
What are the ethical guidelines that sociologists
follow?
Honesty, Openness, Truthfulness, Protecting the
anonymity of the participants, Avoiding misrepresentation
of the participants, Conducting safe research
Material Culture
This includes items such as jewelry, art, buildings,
weapons, machines, clothing, hairstyles, and so on.
Nonmaterial Culture
This is a group's ways of thinking (beliefs, values, and
assumptions) and common patterns of behavior
(language, gestures, and forms of interactions).
Ethnocentrism
The use of one's own culture as a yardstick for judging the
ways of other individuals or societies, generally leading to
GOOD FOR REVISION
Auguste Comte (1797-1867)
Introduced positivism (the idea of applying scientific
methods to the social world) and coined the term
sociology and the founder of sociology. He believed that it
was necessary to observe and classify human behavior to
uncover society's fundamental laws.
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
Believed that no one should interfere with the evolution of
society. He did not conduct research but developed ideas
about society. Idea that society evolves from lower to
higher forms.
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Believed that the root cause of all misery in society was
class conflict—the exploitation of the working classes by
those who were wealthy and owned the means of
production.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Found through his studies that the rate of suicide was
higher among people whose ties with their communities
were weak.
Max Weber (1864-1920)
Believed that religion was the central force in society. He
used cross-cultural and historical materials to trace the
causes of social change.
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
,Founded the Hull House in the Chicago slums and
welcomed people who were poor, sick, and needy. She
worked to implement the eight-hour workday and to
abolish child labor. Social Reform
W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963)
Combined sociology and social reform. He spent his
lifetime studying the relations between African-Americans
and Whites. Race relations.
Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)
Abstract models for sociology
Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)
Social research
basic sociology
research into the behaviors of people in a social
environment. It provides knowledge about that society and
those people.
applied sociology
takes the knowledge found by basic sociology and uses it
to bring about social change.
Symbolic interactionism
social life is based on symbols; things to which we attach
meaning. Thus, symbolic meanings a society attaches to
relationships, various behaviors, and actions simplify
communication and enable the individual or group to
define who and what they are, and to understand the
importance of specific behaviors and events.
Functional analysis
society is viewed as a unit of interrelated parts that must
function together.
Conflict theory
, society is seen as being made up of competing groups
vying for scarce resources. Although alliances and
cooperation might seem to exist, there is an underlying
struggle for power at all times.
List the primary ways in which sociologists do
research
Surveys, Participant observation, Secondary analysis,
Documents, Experiments, Unobtrusive methods
Surveys
Collection of data by having people answer questions,
such as in graduate satisfaction surveys and employee
satisfaction surveys.
Participant Observation
The researcher participates in a research setting while
observing what is happening there.
What are the ethical guidelines that sociologists
follow?
Honesty, Openness, Truthfulness, Protecting the
anonymity of the participants, Avoiding misrepresentation
of the participants, Conducting safe research
Material Culture
This includes items such as jewelry, art, buildings,
weapons, machines, clothing, hairstyles, and so on.
Nonmaterial Culture
This is a group's ways of thinking (beliefs, values, and
assumptions) and common patterns of behavior
(language, gestures, and forms of interactions).
Ethnocentrism
The use of one's own culture as a yardstick for judging the
ways of other individuals or societies, generally leading to
