Through social structure, society is organized into predictable relationships that facilitate social interaction. The transmission of culture and even the survival of society depend on social interaction. This chapter presents the basic elements of social structure and examines several theories of social structure and formal organizations. After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
| 1. Differentiate between ascribed, achieved, and master statuses. |
|
|
|
| 2. Provide examples of primary and secondary groups. |
|
|
|
| 3. Explain the differences between in-groups and out-groups. |
|
|
|
| 4. Discuss the importance of reference groups. |
|
|
|
| 5. Explain why social institutions fulfill a social function. |
|
|
|
| 6. Compare and contrast the conflict and interactionist perspectives of social institutions. |
|
|
|
| 7. Describe a Gemeinshaft and a Gesellschaft community. |
|
|
|
| 8. Summarize the main points of sociocultural evolution theory. |
|
|
|
| 9. Identify and discuss the five basic characteristics of an ideal type bureaucracy. |
|
|
|
| 10. Discuss technology's impact on the workplace. |