SOC400 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Public Sociology, Mcdonaldization
Document Summary
Sociology-systematic study of the ways in which people are affected by and affect the social structures and social processes associated with the groups, organizations, cultures, societies, and world in which they exist. Public sociology- addresses a wide range of local, national, and global groups, most of which are outside of the economy (blogging is a kind of public sociology); contrasts with professional sociology. Society-a complex pattern of social relationships that is bounded in space and persists over time. Globalization-increasingly fluid global flows and the structures that expedite and impede those flows. Consumption-process by which people obtain and utilize goods and services. Mcdonaldization-process by which the rational principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of society and more societies throughout the world. Characteristics of mcdonaldization: efficiency 2. calculability 3. predictability 4. control. Technology-the interplay of machines, tools, skills, and procedures for the accomplishment of tasks.
