EPPL751: SOCIOLOGY OF HIGHER EDUCATION Monica D. Griffin, Ph.D., Sociology; Director, Engaged Scholarship, W&M July 9, 2012

Road Map, Monday, 7/9/12  Basics in Sociological Theory  Lemert – general comments  Review of Classics  Forming an Academic Critique of Theory  Understanding its Structure  Understanding it Within Contexts  Using it to Conduct Educational Research

Lemert on Social Theory Derived from Charles Lemert (2010) “Social Theory: Its Uses and Pleasures”  A way of knowing, understanding, and talking about the social world  A way of studying “disruptions”  Philosophical and scientific pursuit of a “truth” – sometimes the Truth (in the form of social meaning)

Lemert’s History of Social Theory  Modernity’s Classical Age:  Social Theories & World Conflict:  The Golden Moment:  Will the Center Hold?  After Modernity, /2001  Rethinking the Unthinkable After 2011 What’s the point of thinking historically about social theory? On what basis does Lemert create these periods? What are your thoughts about his conceptual and analytical divisions? Do you get a sense of Lemert’s political or scientific orientation in his rendering of social theory?

Perspectives (in Sadovnik)  Functionalist  Conflict  Symbolic Interactionist  Code Theory  Cultural Capital and Symbolic Violence  Educational Outcomes  Status Competition and Interaction Ritual  Institutional Theory  Postmodernism and Critical Theory  Feminist Theory

Review: Classical Theories FUNCTIONALIST (Durkheim) Moral Authority Social Cohesion Collective Conscience Division of Labor Mechanical v. Organic Solidarity Anomie Deviance

Review: Classical Theories, con’t. CONFLICT (Marx) Class Consciousness Bourgeoisie Proletariat Ruling Class Ideology Means of Production Alienation & Labor Social Change through (Violent) Revolution

Review: Classical Theories, con’t. INTERACTIONIST (Goffman; Berger & Luckmann) Meaning Symbols Situational Labelling Theory Typification – Signification – Institutionalization

Forming an Academic Critique of Theory  Understanding its Structure – Explanatory Logic and Reasoning, Use of Information  Understanding it Within Contexts – Past, Present, Organizational, Situational  Using it to Conduct Educational Research – How do YOU begin to apply it and USE it?

Structure of Social Theory Three elements that typically characterize social theory (and sociological perspectives): 1. Conception of society 2. Core Values that maintain social order 3. Attention to interactions and social processes that create or stifle social change

The Logic of Science in Sociology (Wallace, 1971)

Questions? Thanks!