SOC 103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Operational Definition, Content Analysis, Symbolic Interactionism
Document Summary
Conflict theorist: generally concerned with struggle over scarce resources by different groups in society and how elites use power to control the less powerful. Functionalist perspective: would be interested in the smooth functioning of society. (ex. how families contribute to social stability) Both of these are considered macro theories and they ask large questions. Symbolic interactionism: micro perspective, face to face encounters and meanings that people use to facilitate in social life. Qualitative: research focuses on explaining social behavior. Sociologists follow scientific method: systematic approach researchers follow in their quest for answers to a research problem. Hypothesis: a statement about a particular relationship that can be tested. Independent variable: variable that the researches manipulate to create change in dependent variable. Dependent variable: variable whose condition is reliant on the nature of the independent variable. Operational definition: a description of how a variable is measured. Methods depend on the research question asked and the sociologists theoretical orientation.
