Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Origins of Sociology

Interest in social life is very old, dating back to ancient social philosophy. However, sociology as a distinct discipline emerged in the nineteenth century. Its founder was Auguste Comte, who coined the term "sociology." The emergence of sociology was closely linked to the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, as Comte himself grew up amidst these transformative events. These revolutions brought about significant political and social changes. Among those who sought to explain this new social reality were Comte, Durkheim, Marx, and Weber.

Study Subjects

Sociology is the social science dedicated to the systematic study of society, social action, and the groups within it. It examines how organizations and institutions... Continue reading "Understanding Sociology: Key Concepts and Culture" »

Values and Their Influence on Human Behavior

Values are deeply held convictions of human beings that determine their character and guide their behavior. Partnerships involve a multitude of individuals who are grouped by preserving their individuality and harmonized coexistence through mutual cooperation to achieve common goals.

Understanding Neoliberalism

What is neoliberalism, and what is its background? Neoliberalism, also known as neoliberal institutionalism, is a political theory that aims to maximize the reduction of state intervention. It is associated with the free market and capitalism in economic terms.

Fundamentals of Economics

Economics focuses on the best use of assets to meet existing needs.

The Role of the State in the Economy

The State... Continue reading "Understanding Values, Neoliberalism, Economics, and Social Structures" »

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is judging the world through one's own culture's parameters. It often involves believing one's race or ethnic group is superior. People using this ideology judge other groups based on their own culture, particularly regarding language, customs, behavior, religion, and beliefs—aspects that define cultural identity.

Subjectivity

Subjectivity has two meanings: referring to knowledge or the subject. In knowledge theory, subjectivity describes perceptions, arguments, and language based on a subject's viewpoint, influenced by their interests and desires. This contrasts with objectivity, which is inter-subjective, unbiased, and verifiable.

Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is the extreme exercise of authority, lacking consensus... Continue reading "Ethnocentrism, Subjectivity, and Authoritarianism" »

Production Relations

Production relations do not work in isolation. The relations of production depend on the agents of production, all individuals involved in a production process, and the means of production. There are two types of production relations: technical, which occur between the agent and the environment, and social, which exist between the agents. Technical relations refer to the control of the production agents over ways to work. There are three types of control:

• Individual production process: The agent controls the media and the process of work (e.g., craftsmanship).
• Simple cooperative production process: Agents perform the same task, individually control the media, and collectively control the labor process (e.g., original game)

Benefits of Developing Community Projects

There are many benefits to developing a good project. Among them, we note the following:

1. The community worker should reach an early agreement with the administration of which they form part. For this, the project must be sufficiently developed.
2. To start the community process and move people toward organization, you need dissatisfaction with the status quo and hope in the possibilities of a solution. To gather these possible solutions, it is necessary that the community worker announce some viable or true plan. That announcement builds on the intervention project.
3. The transaction between projects or the reappropriation of one of them by people recreating procedures leads to developing a community worker

**Qualitative and Quantitative Research: A Synergistic Approach**

Burgess argued that statistical methods and case studies are not opposed, but in fact, complementary. Comparisons and statistical correlations may suggest clues for research, and documentary materials invite the construction of more appropriate statistical indicators. This represents a complementarity in the development and innovation of the technical concerns of the Chicago school.

Thirty-five years later, in his article, *Zeithel* develops qualitative community studies, analyzes them, and opens them up quantitatively. *Sieber* raises the need to distinguish the distinctive contribution of each method to the entire inquiry, to obtain better information and greater efficiency.... Continue reading "Qualitative and Quantitative Research: A Synergistic Approach" »

Action Research and Participatory Action Research

Research Action (AR)

*a. Value of the Researcher Investigated*

The researcher investigated breaks into a relationship of interest transformers. The research results are dumped on the other observed. The relationship between subject and another transformation is observed. Pragmatic perspective (subject to the other and vice versa observed causing a symmetrical relationship).

*b. Conception of the Object*

Observe to know, though differing in the method of study. Acting to know.

*c. Logic of Research*

Social Intervention

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

*a. Value of the Researcher Investigated*

Radical transformation in the way of investigating. Exchange of roles: The other device is observed synthesizer... Continue reading "Action Research and Participatory Action Research: Methods" »

Management Philosophy

• Mid-Nineteenth Century

  Management was pyramidal, with the manager as the highest authority, dictating fixed ideas and implementation methods. Employees simply executed activities.

• Late Twentieth Century

  Managers and employees collaboratively set objectives. Employees have autonomy in organization and control, driving results.

Historical Features of Management

Administration predates Christ, originating in court administration. Mid-eighteenth-century methods persisted until 40 years ago. Subsequent industrial-level investigations led to:

• Increased use of machinery
• Centralization of production activities
• New employer-employee relationships
• Separation of customer and producer

The need for evolving goal-setting methods led to the emergence... Continue reading "Management Evolution: From Pyramidal to Collaborative" »

Organizational Characteristics of Primary Schools

1. Stages and Cycles:

• Primary education consists of three cycles, each spanning two academic years.
• These cycles are organized into areas with a global and integrative character.

2. Curriculum Areas:

• Knowledge of the Natural, Social, and Cultural Environment
• Artistic Education
• Physical Education
• Castilian Language and Literature (and, if applicable, the official regional language and literature)
• Foreign Language
• Mathematics

3. Additional Subjects:

• In one of the later courses, Education for Citizenship and Human Rights is added, with special emphasis on gender equality.

4. Second Foreign Language:

• In the third cycle, educational authorities may introduce a second foreign language.

5. Instrumental Areas:

• Areas

Marx's Theory of Labor Organization Under Capitalism

Transformation of Capitalism

Marx proposed to transform capitalism and its organization of work to establish a classless society. He believed this was possible because capitalism, despite its inherent structure of domination, had dismantled feudal institutions and the traditional organization of labor and trade.

From Trade Organizations to Industrial Production

Traditional trade organizations, focused on craftsmanship, gave way to industrial production. This shift aimed to produce goods quickly and efficiently, leading to mass production, lower prices, and wider accessibility for the population.

Taylorism and the Individualistic Mentality

The rise of industrial production also led to the emergence... Continue reading "Marx's Theory of Labor Organization and Engels' Interpretation" »