Sociology Theory and Method

The Sociological Perspective Sociology The systematic study of human society Sociologists try to develop theories about the interrelationship between group life and the individual. Sociological studies range in size from focus on entire nations or organizations to analyses of small groups or individual interactions. At the heart of the discipline is a distinctive point of view called the sociological perspective Remind of Mills and Berger Getting out of our orbits

Other social sciences Anthropology, in contrast, primarily concentrates on human existence over geographic space and evolutionary time. Unlike psychology, sociology examines the individual in relation to external factors, while psychology focuses on internal factors.

The Sociological Perspective: Seeing the Strange in the Familiar Looking sociologically requires us to give up the familiar idea that human behavior is simply a matter of what people decide to do in favor of the initially strange notion that society guides our thoughts and deeds. The sociological imagination C. Wright Mills defined the sociological imagination as the ability to see the relationship between individual experience and the larger society. The sociological imagination enables us to distinguish between personal troubles, which must be solved by the individual, and public issues, which require societal solutions. “that just how they are” Dude is just crazy Just lazy Not a denial that “crazy and lazy” people exist…but a question/desire to look deeper, to look systematically

Seeing Sociologically: Marginality Social Marginality – being excluded from social activity as an “outsider.” TAKE A STEP BACK… How might we label someone on the margins here at FHS?

Seeing Sociologically: Marginality The greater a person’s marginality, the better able they are to use the sociological perspective To become better at using the sociological perspective, step back from familiar routines

Applying the Sociological Perspective Sociology is at work guiding many of the laws and policies that shape our lives. On an individual level, making use of the sociological perspective leads to important personal growth and expanded awareness Studying sociology is excellent preparation for the world of work

Studying Part and Whole a key part to how a sociologists studies the world is the concept that the individual and society are inseparable. It is impossible to study one with the other. We have to study the part (the individual and their choices) in context with the whole. And we cannot study the whole, without studying the individual Religion example Politics example

Sociology and Public Policy Sociologists have helped shape public policy The laws and regulations that guide how people in communities live and work Question: Think of a public policy topic in our society that is currently under review and/or discussion. How could we use sociological thinking to help guide our society towards effective public policy in relationship to the selected topic?

Sociology and Personal Growth Using sociology benefits us in four ways The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of “common sense” The sociological perspective helps us see the opportunities in our everyday lives The sociological perspective empowers us to be active participants in our society The sociological perspective helps us live in a diverse world

Science and Sociology Auguste Comte (1798–1857) French social thinker who coined the term “sociology” in 1838 to describe a new way of looking at the world. Prior to the development of sociology, how did people answer questions that they had concerning the operation of society? Now that I have you convinced that sociology is the most important and useful endeavor you will participate in in high school…lets actually learn more about what it is…

Science and Sociology Auguste Comte (1798–1857) (continued) Comte saw sociology as the product of three stages of historical development: Theological stage – God’s will Metaphysical stage – natural phenomenon Scientific stage Positivism – understanding the world based on science. We cannot think of thought as being inherent. Have to eschew understandings of the “common sense”. Thought, much like any other sort of development (eg technology, fashions, entertainment) has gone through stages, has evolved over time

Sociological Theory Theory A statement of how and why specific facts are related Job of sociological theory To explain social behavior in the real world Sociologists conduct research to test and refine their theories Remember, a theory is not a law. It is not “this is definitely true all the time” it does not necessarily define a situation, but rather it gives us a tool (one of perhaps many tools) to understand

Sociological Theory Theoretical Approach A basic image of society that guides thinking and research It serves as a roadmap. Three major theoretical approaches Structural-functional approach Social-conflict approach Symbolic-interaction approach Vital that we understand theory is based off observation, research and testing/experimentation. It is not opinion. We have to be careful about opinion in sociology (and really any social science for that matter). Theories come about from extensive study, observation, research…from multiple parties. It is not the same as your parents meeting your boyfriend for the first time and your father having a “theory” about why and how he is no good…just make sure we are looking at quality and quantity of research before we jump into a theory, this is so dangerous. Think if you were to create a theory about why your car was not working….

The Structural-Functional Approach A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability Social Structure Any relatively stable pattern of social behavior Is there social structure in this classroom? What about in the family or workplace? Draw body on board

The Structural-Functional Approach Social Functions The consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole

The Structural-Functional Approach This approach looks for each structure’s social patterns function to keep society going, at least in its present form Robert K. Merton (1910–2003) Expanded understanding of social function Pointed out that any social structure probably has many functions Distinguished between manifest functions and latent functions

The Structural-Functional Approach Manifest Functions The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern Latent Functions The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern What are the manifest and latent functions of our nation’s higher education programs?

The Structural-Functional Approach Social Dysfunction Any social pattern that might disrupt the operation of society Why are prison gangs considered dysfunctional? Even though are may be considered dysfunctional, can this dysfunction be functional?

The Structural-Functional Approach CRITICAL REVIEW Main idea of the structural-functional approach is its vision of society as stable and orderly Main goal of sociologists who use this approach is to figure out “what makes society tick”

The Social-Conflict Approach A framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change Highlights how the following factors are linked to inequality Class, race, ethnicity, gender, age Social-conflict approach is used to look at ongoing conflict between dominant and disadvantaged categories of people

Feminism and the Gender-Conflict Approach A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men Gender-conflict approach is closely linked to feminism The advocacy of social inequality for women and men

Feminism and the Gender-Conflict Approach Another contribution of the gender-conflict approach Awareness of the importance of women to the development of sociology

The Race-Conflict Approach A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories Race-conflict approach points out the contributions to the development of sociology by people of color

The Race-Conflict Approach CRITICAL REVIEW Ignores how shared values and interdependence can unify members of a society Politically, social-conflict cannot claim scientific objectivity Supporters note that social-conflict responds that all theoretical approaches have political consequences Both the functional and conflict approaches paint society in broad strokes

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach Structural-functional and social-conflict approaches share a macro-level orientation Broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole Micro-level orientation A close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach A framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals. Society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups. a) Interactionists focus on interaction, defined as immediate reciprocally oriented communication between two or more people, and the part symbols play in giving meaning to communication. b) A symbol is anything that meaningfully represents something else. c) In social encounters, each person's interpretations or definition of a situation becomes a subjective reality.

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach Interactionists attempt to study how people make sense of their life situations and the way they go about their activities on a daily basis. George Herbert Mead and Charles H. Cooley Explored how individual personalities are developed from social experience. Concluded that identity or 'self' only develops via interaction and communication with others Mead developed the idea of the "generalized other" to explain this, and Cooley developed the "looking-glass self."

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach Society is the reality people construct for themselves as they interact with one another If you see a homeless man on the street, how do you respond to that person? Consider your thoughts and how they lead to your actions.

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach CRITICAL REVIEW Symbolic-interaction approach reminds us that society basically amounts to people interacting Micro-level sociology shows how individuals construct and experience society

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach CRITICAL REVIEW (continued) This approach risks overlooking Widespread influence of culture Factors such as Class Gender Race

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