Sociology key terms

Carlen’s term for the promise that respectable working-class women can obtain consumer goods through paid work.

A weakening association between social class and voting behaviour.

Differences in family life associated with a family's position in the social class system, including its access to resources.

A society without divisions into social classes.

The widening division between the capitalist class and the working class, producing increasingly opposed class positions.

The continuation of class inequalities across generations, as children tend to enter class positions similar to those of their parents.

A sense of shared interests and mutual support among people in the same social class.

Conflict between social classes whose economic interests oppose one another; Marx regarded it as the driving force of social change.

A question with fixed response options, such as yes/no or a rating from 1 to 5.

A society in which social positions are largely ascribed and movement between levels is severely restricted.

Assigning labels or categories to data so that responses can be organised and compared.

The use of force or threats to make people comply.

A pattern of behaviour that restricts another person's independence through intimidation, isolation, monitoring or other forms of domination.

Living together as a couple outside marriage or a civil partnership.

A family in which a couple live together as partners without being married.

A group of people born around the same time who experience particular historical circumstances at similar stages of life.

Differences in family experiences between generations shaped by the historical periods in which they live.

A group of people who live together and share tasks, possessions and wealth.

A political and economic system based on communal rather than individual ownership.

A court-imposed sentence served outside custody, which may involve unpaid work, supervision or restrictions on an offender's activities.

A punishment imposed by a court requiring an offender to do unpaid work in the community.

Rivalry between individuals or organisations seeking an advantage; examples include pupils competing in examinations or sport and schools competing to attract pupils.

The average number of live-born children that women born in the same year have had by the end of their childbearing years.

A secondary school that admits pupils across the ability range rather than selecting its intake by academic ability.

Government provision of free school places for children within the compulsory education age range. In England, children aged 5–16 are entitled to a free state-school place; compulsory education does not mean that every child must attend a school.

Protecting information given by research participants from unauthorised disclosure.

An approach which sees society as shaped by unequal power and competing interests between social groups.

An approach that sees society as involving unequal power and competing interests between social groups.

An approach which explains society mainly through inequalities of power and competing group interests.

Merton’s response in which an individual accepts conventional success goals and pursues them through socially approved means.