1. Sociological Theory

2. What is theory? A way to explain how facts are related – These facts should be based on empirical evidence Provides a framework for interpretation – a lens through which we can examine certain social phenomena. In Sociology, the primary question theory seeks to answer: What holds society together?

9. Example: Suicide – Emile Durkheim Egoistic Altruistic Anomic – Anomie = loss of direction, don’t know where to go, lawlessness, Fatalistic Found higher rates of suicide who were protistants vs. Catholics, single rates higher than married, children or don’t have children