Learn the roles of families and peer groups in socializationUnderstand how we are socialized through formal institutions like schools, workplaces, and the government
Explain how socialization occurs and recurs throughout lifeUnderstand how people are socialized into new roles at age-related transition pointsDescribe when and how resocialization occurs
Understand the difference between psychological and sociological theories of self-developmentExplain the process of moral development
Understand the importance of socialization both for individuals and societyExplain the nature versus nurture debate
Understand the sociological concept of reality as a social constructDefine roles and describe their places in people’s daily interactionsExplain how individuals present themselves and perceive themselves in a social context
Describe Durkhiem’s functionalist view of societyUnderstand the conflict theorist view of societyExplain Marx’s concepts of class and alienationIdentify how symbolic interactionists understand society
Describe the difference between preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial societiesUnderstand the role of environment on preindustrial societiesUnderstand how technology impacts societal development
Define and describe the scientific methodExplain how the scientific method is used in sociological researchUnderstand the function and importance of an interpretive frameworkDefine what reliability and validity mean in a research study
Understand why ethical standards existDemonstrate awareness of the American Sociological Association’s Code of EthicsDefine value neutrality
Differentiate between four kinds of research methods: surveys, field research, experiments, and secondary data analysisUnderstand why different topics are better suited to different research approaches
Understand types of economic systems and their historical developmentDescribe capitalism and socialism both in theory and in practiceDiscussion how functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists view the economy and work
Define globalization and describe its manifestation in modern societyDiscuss the pros and cons of globalization from an economic standpoint
Describe the current U.S. workforce and the trend of polarizationExplain how women and immigrants have changed the modern U.S. workforceUnderstand the basic elements of poverty in the United States today
