Sociological Theory, Perspective, & Method

CHAPTER 1
What is Theory?
What is Sociological Theory?
◦ An explanation about
social structures (aka: patterns)

◦ Not final statements

Sociological Theory
oThree major paradigms
oExceptions and outliers
oOffer different explanation
 Theory
Social Theories
Macro Theory Micro Theory

Symbolic
Functionalist Conflict
Interactionism
Theory Theory
(SI)

Feminism
Social Theories
Macro = Large Micro = Small
EX: Division of Labor
EX: Wage gap
(Structural) Functionalism
• Macro
• Focus on stability
• Patterns within society
• Purpose – good or bad
Types of Functions
Manifest Function:
●The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern

Latent Function:
●The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social patterns
Functions of Higher Education
Manifest Functions: ??

Latent Functions:??
Dysfunctions
• Disruption with the normal functioning of society.

• Why are there dysfunctions?

Dysfunctions are functional!...?
Crime
Dysfunctions:
Immoral
Creates fear
Increase in public costs
People get hurt
Crime
Functions:
Creates jobs
Means to an end
Social solidarity
Social-Conflict (Conflict) Theory
oMacro

Powerful

Powerless
Conflict Theory
o Maintain the privilege
o Keep others in a subservient
o Institutions: the family, government, religion, education, the media, etc.
Control
oKnowledge/Information
oResources o Higher education
o Money and jobs
o Media
o Food and water

oPolitics
o Law makers
o Policies
Feminism

•Macro

•Sub-theory of conflict theory

•Men versus Women
Feminism
•Economic
• 80 % of men’s wages
• Women as recent participants
• Historical norms of financial dependence
Feminism

• Political
• Unequal representation
• Ex: Reproductive healthcare policies
Feminism
• Occupational
• Hierarchies
• Promotions
• Job titles
• Hiring practices
Feminism
•Sexuality and gender
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual violence
• Masculinity versus femininity
• Division of labor
Race Conflict Theory
•Macro

•Sub-theory of conflict theory

•White versus non-white

Race Conflict Theory

•Average income
Race Conflict Theory

•Educational attainment
Race Conflict Theory

•Health
Race Conflict Theory

•Life expectancy
Micro-level Theory
Symbolic Interactionism (SI)
Symbolic Interactionism (SI)
•Relationships

•Workplaces

•Home

•Classroom
Remember…
• Different explanations

• Same situations
What is the focus of each of the main
theories?
Functionalism?

Conflict?

Symbolic Interactionism?
What is the focus of each of the main
theories?
Functionalism? = Purpose and stability

Conflict? = Inequality

Symbolic Interactionism? = Creation and use of meaningful symbols

Why does all of this matter?
Global Perspective
•Life chances matter
•The world is interconnected
•What happens in the world affects the United States
•Social conditions exist in other places
•Thinking globally = empathy and understanding
Applying Sociological Perspectives

•Are people successful only from working hard?

•Opportunities and barriers

•Active social participants

•Think critically about culture

•Consider policy impact

Three Ways to Do Sociology
• Positivist = research
• Interpretive = interviews and observations
• Critical = critiquing and changing society
Research (Positivist)
• Research Method: Systematic plan
• Experiments
• Surveys
• Participant observation
• Existing data
Experiment
• Cause and effect
• Controlled conditions
• Testing a hypothesis
• Baseline, then measure change
• Relationship between two or more variables
• Independent
• Dependent
Surveys
• Responses to questionnaires
• Attitudes and beliefs
• Target population
• Quantitative or qualitative
• Snowball sampling
• Biases
Participant Observation (Interpretive)
• Natural setting
• No hypothesis
• No questions
• Qualitative
• Become immersed as well as remain an observer
Existing Data Sources
• Collected by others
• Secondary data
• Can save time and money
Generalizations
• Not stereotypes
• Not applied to all people
• Recognizable patterns
• Available facts
• “general”