World and Society

 

Social Sciences

This glossary contains words that are frequently used in the field of study of World and Society.

Americanization

noun

the action of making a person or thing American in character or nationality.

Example: This is not to say music programming doesn't attract money - it does - but money tends to congregate around the celebrity - strewn rock extravaganza, which is not our line at all. Though if we did follow the dictates of the market - place, that's where we'd be heading, fast. MIPCOM takes place over five days - - though not being exhibitors with all the setting - up and taking - down of displays (video - screens, logos, stylish furniture, programme brochures, all de rigueur ) - we opted for just three days.

fr: Américanisation

Automation

noun

the use of largely automatic equipment in a system of manufacturing or other production process.

Example: Businesses large and small are increasingly using "office AUTOMATION systems" to communicate internally and externally, to maintain staff records and to monitor financial transactions in the form of sales, costs and budget forecasting.

fr: Automatisation

Capitalism

Noun

An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Example: The rise of the 'knowledge economy' does not reflect fundamental changes in the nature of CAPITALISM and work.

fr: Capitalisme

Colonialism

Noun

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Example: Race is a sociological construct, emerging within COLONIALISM.

fr: Colonialisme

Culture shock

Noun

The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

Example: The English, however, faced a massive CULTURE SHOCK and a struggle for survival even during times when the two sides were on good terms.

fr: Choc des cultures

Density

Noun

The quantity of people or things in a given area or space.

Example: Research methods Actual population DENSITY can be acquired through a Direct Count.

fr: Densité

Ecology

Noun

The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Example: In order make an educated choice it is essential to be familiar with the species ECOLOGY (e.g. home range, nocturnal diurnal cathemeral, breeding season, detectibility) and the area of study, prior to commencing research.

fr: Écologie

Emigration

Noun

The act of leaving one's own country to settle permanently in another; moving abroad.

Example: Clearly there are examples such as EMIGRATION and immigration and adoption in which this claim is inapplicable, but these are deviations from what I take to be the standard case.

fr: Émigration

Ethnicity

Noun

The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.

Example: Social dialects are also established amongst social groups particularly based on social class, religion and ETHNICITY.

fr: Origine ethnique

Feminism

Noun

The advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

Example: Diversity may also cause challenges for homogenous and collectivist societies, with high PD, FEMINISM and low UA (appendix 3) due to lack of structure, diverse perceptions and communication barriers (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005).

fr: Féminisme

Immigration

Noun

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

Example: Either way, being able to demand a form of ID at any time can be used for tighter controls and if this is what the government wants, it is a way to draw a line to IMMIGRATION.

fr: Immigration

Marxism

Noun

The political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis for the theory and practice of communism.

Example: Postmodernists have rejected the views of Marx, believing them to be no longer relevant in society as they suppose, social order to be dwindling, In a postmodern world, grand theoretical accounts such as MARXISM and functionalism is obsolete' (Marsh 2000 p.123).

fr: Marxisme

Middle class

Noun

The economic group between the upper and lower classes, including professional and business workers and their families.

Example: The model presented in the article is a game of incomplete information between three agents: the rich, the MIDDLE CLASS and the poor.

fr: Classe moyenne

Pollution

Noun

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

Example: As the majority of farms are now forced to meet standards in order to market produce, animal wellfayre, control of POLLUTION and food safety in Britain is now the best in the World, farmers can market produce with pride even if the consumer fails to fully appreciate it.

fr: Pollution

Population

Noun

A particular section, group, or type of people or animals living in an area or country.

Example: Monitoring species For the farm to sufficiently monitor the POPULATION abundance of mammal species, it is important to get volunteer involvement.

fr: Population

Prejudice

Noun

Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Social class

Noun

A division of a society based on social and economic status.

Example: Postmodernists believe that we are now free to make our own choices and choose our own tastes without the restriction of SOCIAL CLASS.

fr: Classe sociale

Social mobility

Noun

Movement of individuals, families, or groups through a system of social hierarchy or stratification.

Example: Although obligations were mutual and links between 'classes' strong, stratification was clearly visible and it is unclear whether there was much opportunity for SOCIAL MOBILITY.

fr: La mobilité sociale

Stereotype

Noun

A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Example: Women were found to use more questions and tag questions than men, which adheres to the STEREOTYPE (Brouwer et al 1979 as in Coates 2004: 93) despite the interview context of the male transcript.

fr: Stéréotype

Urbanization

Noun

The process of making an area more urban.

Example: Mass URBANIZATION appears to have deprived workers of their identity and humanity, leaving them apathetic and isolated; 'Sighs, short and infrequent, were exhaled, And each man fixed his eyes before his feet.

fr: Urbanisation

This glossary was made with the Virtual Writing Tutor glossary maker and grammar checker.