Sociology key terms

Unequal treatment of people because of their sex or gender.

Fair and equal treatment regardless of a person's sex or gender.

Discrimination or unfair treatment based on sex or gender.

A person’s sexual orientation: their sexual or romantic attraction to others, for example heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.

A person’s pattern of sexual or romantic attraction, for example being heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.

The state of not being in a couple relationship; it does not necessarily mean living alone.

A family consisting of two partners of the same sex and their children; also called a same-sex family.

A system in which people are treated as property, with others claiming ownership of them and control over their labour and freedom.

A sample built through existing participants identifying or referring the researcher to other potential participants.

Recruiting participants through existing participants who refer the researcher to other suitable people.

The expectations and roles society attaches to people of different ages, rather than simply how many years they have lived.

Social networks and connections that provide access to useful information, advice or support.

A change in a society’s structure, attitudes, behaviour, norms or values.

A person's position in society's system of economic and occupational inequalities. Halsey, Heath and Ridge classified class background using the father's occupation.

The process through which a group excludes others from membership and access to its advantages.

The extent to which members of a society are united and able to live and cooperate together.

An idea or category produced through social and cultural processes rather than simply existing independently of people's decisions.

A concept or category whose meaning is created through social rules, judgements and interactions rather than being fixed universally.

Processes which encourage or enforce conformity to social norms and values, through formal or informal means.

An accepted way of behaving within a society or group.

The tendency for respondents to give answers that make them appear acceptable or favourable rather than answering honestly.

Being shut out of society or aspects of its political, economic, social or cultural life.

Damage to a person’s relationships, reputation or social position resulting from research or its consequences.

Enabling people or groups to participate fully in society by removing barriers to opportunities, resources and community life.

Unequal access to resources and opportunities between individuals or social groups.

An established pattern of social relationships, roles and expectations organised around an important area of life, such as family life.

The process through which people learn the norms and values of a society or social group.

A system in which productive resources, such as capital, land and factories, are owned by the community as a whole rather than by a few individuals.

Limited social contact and access to supportive relationships. A person can experience this even while living with other people.

Behaviour whose meaning and acceptability are determined by its social context, rather than the act alone.