This document outlines the key topics, terms, theories and concepts to be covered in a Sociology Unit 1 course. It includes defining over 30 sociological terms, explaining the views of functionalism, Marxism, interpretivism and feminism on social order, stratification and institutions. Students are to become familiar with research methods and statistics on social mobility, religion, family and education in 3 Caribbean countries.

1. Sociology Unit 1
Define the following terms:
 Sociology
 Culture
 Identity
 Norms
 Values
 cultural universals
 structural universals
 popular culture
 subculture
 counter culture
 Caribbean
 Society
 Positivism
 social order
 equilibrium
 status
 roles
 social groups
 socialization
 education
 religion
 social change
 sanctions
 family
 peer group
 mass media
 quantitative & qualitative methods
 sample.
2. The student should be able to satisfactorily explain and identify the theorists who
advocate and critique the following:

2. Functionalism - views on Society (Social Order, Social Mobility and Stratification),
Institutions (Family, Religion, Education)
Marxist - views on Society (Social Order and Stratification), Institutions (Family,
Religion, Education)
Interpretivism - views on Society (Social Order and Stratification), Institutions
(Family, Religion, Education)
Feminism
Plantation Society Theory
Plural Society
Creole Society Theory
Methods of Research - Positivism, Interpretivism
3. Become familiar with current statistics (where available) on issues relating to
Become familiar with approximately three Caribbean countries, with regards to:
Social mobility and Social Stratification
Religious affiliation and historical development/recent developments
Changes in Family structure eg, delayed marriage rates, divorce rates etc.
Changes in Education policy and its effects on the contemporary populations