Theories and Perspectives in Sociology, Understanding sociological Theory In the study of how society works, sociologists use theories, to help explain human behaviour. Within sociology, there are several theories and perspectives used to do this. These are divided into three main theories structural functional, Conflict and social action theory. The social action theory is micro a study of society, this theory looks at individual’s behaviour and how individuals interact with each other. As stated in Giddens, sociologists who support this theory see individuals as not created by society but as the creators of society.
In other words, they help us to relate the larger social picture to our own personal lives. A Theory is a set of interrelated concepts that are used to define, explain, and predict how society and its parts are connected to each other. They are concepts and ideas that have been scientifically tested and combined to magnify, enlarge, clarify, and expand the understanding of people, their behaviors, and their societies (Hammond, 2008). Two Main Sociological Theories Theories vary in scope depending on the scale of the issues they are meant to explain. Grand theories, more formally called “Macro-level”, attempt to explain large-scale relationships and answer fundamental questions such as what forms societies and why does societies change.
Sociology Versus Anthropology Abstract: Sociology and Anthropology both concentrate on the society and its evolution. Both share different approaches as well as have some similarities as well. This essay will discuss two research methods used in sociology as well as two research methods used in anthropology. The methods will then be compared and contrasted. Describe two research methods used in Sociology: According to the University of North Carolina, Sociology is described as “The study of human social relationships and institutions.” Sociology uses several research methods to study social relationships and institutions including quantitative research and observational research.
This essay will compare and contrast both the Marxism theory and the Functionalism theory of topics in society. The topics of society this essay will discuss are: Families, Education, Employment and Religion. This essay will look at evidence supporting these theories and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses. In Sociology there are many theories on different society based topics. A sociological theory is the same as a sociological perspective; it is a way that sociologists look at something.
Sociological Perspectives There are three different perspectives to the way society works; these are structuralist perspective, conflict perspective and symbolic/interactionist perspective. Interpretative Perspective Interpretive sociology is a theoretical perspective based on the idea that a sociological understanding of behaviour must include the meaning that social actors give to what they and others do. When people interact, they interpret what is going on and this is what gives social life its patterned quality. Symbolic Internationalism This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction. Interaction between individuals is negotiated through shared symbols, gestures and nonverbal communications.
The relationship between these two is they both help us find reasoning and uncover why many things in society are the way they are while also uncovering the bigger picture. Thus having the end goal of being able to have control and/or understanding over one’s life through certain actions. Researchers use sociological imagination to explain social things typically ignored by people steeped in individualism. They do this by having their subjects think about topics in society that have led to some sort of outcome, and get them to understand what causes led to that result. Outcomes are shaped by (but are not limited to) social norms, motives, and the social context (country, time period, and people they associate themselves with).
This paper will examine the similarities and differences of the theoretical views. What are the Sociological theories? Functionalism, the Conflict Theory, and Interactionism comprise the three main sociological theories. These theories affect the way people think and perceive the world around them. Each sociological theory mentioned above: functionalism, conflict, and interactionism, presents a different set of assumptions or perspective that define a particular way of understanding of social action.
Which Perspective Do You Hold? : A Theoretical Perspectives Essay Emily Vitel Grand Canyon University – SOC 102 August 31, 2014 According to the American Sociological Association (ASA), sociology is the study of society involving the way people interact and behave with one another. Similar to psychologists, sociologists observe, study, analyze, and conduct experiments, the only difference is that psychologists work with the mental aspect and sociologists are involved with the social aspect of society. As an individual, we each sociologically view the world in a particular way. There are three distinctive ways that individuals can view the world “sociologically”; a place where things simply “work out”, a place that is about relationships
Q. Discuss the major differences as well as similarities of Macro sociological theories? There are two main theories which are classified under macro sociology which are functionalism and conflict. This paper will focus on those two theories, its objective is to delineate the assumptions of these theoretical perspectives and apply the assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions.
S Personal Troubles and Public Issues: Exercising My Sociological Imagination Culture, Language, and Writing a petition By Step #1: Concept Definition – Language Throughout this essay I will use Sociological Imagination to examine my personal experience as a Personal Troubles and Public issues. The Sociological Imaginations is a term coined by American sociologist C.Wright Mills. For Mills the sociological imagination is the ability to see and understand how individual experiences are connected to the larger society. It helps us to have better understanding of personal troubles and public issues. The Sociological imagination has two dimensions.