1. Sociological Questions

2. The Sociological Questions Sociologists tend to focus on the massive shifts in the behaviours and attitudes of groups and whole societies. Sociologists tend to focus on the massive shifts in the behaviours and attitudes of groups and whole societies. They see change as an inevitable process. They see change as an inevitable process. They are preoccupied with whether social change is patterned and predictable, or arbitrary and irregular. They are preoccupied with whether social change is patterned and predictable, or arbitrary and irregular.

3. The Sociological Questions The major question that fascinates sociologists is: The major question that fascinates sociologists is: How does social change come about? How does social change come about?

4. The Sociological Questions Sociology developed three main ways of explaining social change: Sociology developed three main ways of explaining social change: From decay From decay From cycles of growth and decay From cycles of growth and decay From progress From progress

5. The Sociological Questions From decay- social change was seen as being caused by decline or degeneration From decay- social change was seen as being caused by decline or degeneration

6. From cycles of growth and decay- societies go through cycles of growth and decay. From cycles of growth and decay- societies go through cycles of growth and decay.

7. From progress- social change occurs as a result of the phenomenon of continuous progress. From progress- social change occurs as a result of the phenomenon of continuous progress. Each new society builds on the experiences of its predecessors, and social institutions change as a result. Each new society builds on the experiences of its predecessors, and social institutions change as a result.

8. The Sociological Questions Since the nineteenth century, some social scientists began to believe that social change was caused by a single factor or by interplay of many factors. Since the nineteenth century, some social scientists began to believe that social change was caused by a single factor or by interplay of many factors.

9. The Sociological Questions Reductionist theory- social change occurred as a result of one factor Reductionist theory- social change occurred as a result of one factor or or Determinist theory- a specific factor determines the nature of social change that takes place. Determinist theory- a specific factor determines the nature of social change that takes place.

10. The Sociological Questions Sociologists believe that human behaviour is generally patterned and therefore potentially predictable. It is important for them to identify patterns. Sociologists believe that human behaviour is generally patterned and therefore potentially predictable. It is important for them to identify patterns. People within societies tend to behave according to societal norms (customary types of behaviour). Therefore, the extent to which a society will accept social change is predictable. People within societies tend to behave according to societal norms (customary types of behaviour). Therefore, the extent to which a society will accept social change is predictable. Modernistic societies are more likely to experience and accept change than more traditional societies Modernistic societies are more likely to experience and accept change than more traditional societies

11. The Sociological Questions Sociologists tend to look at one or more of four aspects of social change in their studies: Sociologists tend to look at one or more of four aspects of social change in their studies: Direction of change Direction of change Rate of change Rate of change Sources Sources Controllability Controllability

12. Direction of Change Is it positive or negative change, and who says so? Is it positive or negative change, and who says so?

13. Rate of Change Is the degree of change slow, moderate or fast? Is the degree of change slow, moderate or fast? Is it radical change over a short period, or slow change that will continue for decades? Is it radical change over a short period, or slow change that will continue for decades? Is the rate of change slowing, staying steady, or increasing? Is the rate of change slowing, staying steady, or increasing? What factors are affecting this rate? What factors are affecting this rate?

14. Sources What factors are behind the influences? What factors are behind the influences? (they might be exogenous influences, coming from another society into this one, or endogenous influences, coming from within the society itself) (they might be exogenous influences, coming from another society into this one, or endogenous influences, coming from within the society itself) Example  Demographic Group

15. Controllability To what degree is it possible to engineer or restrict social change ? (e.g. how to eliminate gang-violence, child abuse, poverty, the divorce rate, teenage smoking, drug-abuse, etc.) To what degree is it possible to engineer or restrict social change ? (e.g. how to eliminate gang-violence, child abuse, poverty, the divorce rate, teenage smoking, drug-abuse, etc.)