claims maker - An expert in a related field, someone with personal experience, or a social activist who tries to assemble evidence supporting a claim that a condition or behavior is a social problem.
conflict perspective - A conceptual approach that views society as characterized by inequalities that advantage some groups and disadvantage others, leading to conflict and the potential for social change.
D
dependent variable - The variable whose value is determined by the independent variable
E
economic conflict perspective - A conflict perspective that focuses on factors such as poverty, the concentration of power in the hands of the wealthy, and the profit motive of capitalist culture as major causes of social problems.
experiment - The type of research in which the independent variable is manipulated to see if this is followed by the predicted change in the dependent variable while controlling for other factors thought to affect the dependent variable.
F
false consciousness - A lack of understanding about the existence or cause of a harmful condition or behavior.
feminist conflict perspective - A conflict perspective that focuses on gender inequality as the cause of social problems.
field research - A type of research that involves gathering data on what is assumed to be natural behavior in a real-world setting.
focus group - A group discussion, usually one to two hours in length, in which group members are asked to focus on a selected topic under the guidance of a researcher who acts as a moderator and facilitator.
H
historical and comparative research - Sociological analyses and comparisons of societies.
hypothesis - A prediction derived from a theory about how one variable is related to another variable.
I
independent variable - The variable that a theory says determines the value of another variable.
L
latent functions - Unintended and often hidden or not well-understood functions.
M
manifest functions - Intended and publicly recognized functions.
O
objective element - Reality of the existence of a condition or behavior recognized as a social problem.
R
racial/ethnic conflict perspective - A conflict perspective that focuses on discrimination based on skin color or ethnic heritage as the cause of social problems.
S
sample - the persons chosen for a study to represent a larger population you want to learn about.
secondary data analysis - A type of research that involves analyzing data that have been collected by others.
social disorganization - A structural functional perspective that sees problems being caused by social change that occurs too quickly or anything else that disrupts the functioning of social institutions.
social dysfunction - A structural functional perspective asserting that harmful conditions may be created by the positive functions of social institutions.
social pathology - A structural functional perspective that likens society to a living organism that can be healthy, evolve to a higher state, or become ill.
social problem - A condition or a type of behavior that many people believe is harmful.
sociological imagination - The ability to relate the most personal elements and problems of an individual’s life to social forces and the flow of history.
structural functional perspective - A conceptual framework that views society as a system of interdependent parts carrying out functions crucial to the well-being of the other parts and the system as a whole.
subjective element - Level of public concern about a condition or behavior recognized as a social problem.
survey research - A type of research that involves asking people questions about a topic.
symbolic interactionism - A sociological perspective that focuses on the analysis of person-to-person interaction and the actual meanings people give to their experiences and environments.
T
theory - An explanation for the existence of particular social conditions or patterns of behavior.
true consciousness - Awareness of the existence and real cause of a harmful condition or behavior and that this harmful condition or behavior can be eliminated if people work together.
V
variable - Anything that can have two or more values and can be measured in some way.
