UNDERSTANDING THEORIES (Adapted from Innovative Techniques for Teaching Sociology), p. 119

Goals: -To understand how various theories provide alternative perspectives on the same social phenomenon. - To explore how theories be used as a tool to understand the social world? Takes about 15 minutes Need keychain or pen or other tzochke. Walk around showing student keychain. Ask them to describe what they see. 5 minutes.

What did you see? I saw…..

. Break up into groups of 4 and each group is assigned a theory: conflict, feminist and symbolic interactionist Using only the statements listed on the previous power point, write a description of the keychain based on their theoretical perspective and using only selected characteristics listed on the board. Use your books or notes to refresh your memory. DEMONSTRATE HOW THE CHARACTERISTICS EACH GROUP SELECTED ARE VERY DIFFERENT. DEMONSTRATE HOW EACH ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS COULD BE TURNED INTO A VARIABLE AND A HYPOTHESIS. I.E. PROF IS SUPERSTIITIOUS SO SHE CARRIES A TROLL. EACH THEORY PROVIDES DIFFERENT IMAGE OF THE KEYCHAIN. ONE THEORY DOESN’T NECESSARILY EXCLUDE THE OTHER FROM BEING CORRECT. EACH THEORETICAL INTERPRETATION WOULD NEED MORE SUPPORT. SCIENTIFIC TESTING

WHAT DO YOU SEE? DESCRIBE

WHAT IS CONNECTION BETWEEN PERSPECTIVE IN IMAGE AND USING A THEORY THEORIES ARE TOOLS FOR UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL WORLD. DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PRODUCE DIFFERENT REALITIES THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ALTER QUESTIONS ASKED, EVIDENCE REALITY IS SOCIAL CONSTRUCT