Sociology & Major Sociological Paradigms

Models, or set of concepts and theories, that frames perspectives on particular issues.

• philosophy

• Paradigms

• Theory

• hypothesis

The fundamental assumptions sociologists have about the social world that guide their thinking and research.

• sociological research

• paradigm

• psychology

• Theoretical Paradigms

Why do sociologists need theoretical paradigms?

• Because the raw facts don't interpret themselves--they need models to help evaluate them.

• for understanding micro-level tendencies

• Because different paradigms are useful in different situations

• for answering different kinds of questions.

Why do sociologists need multiple theoretical paradigms?

• Because different paradigms are useful in different situations and for answering different kinds of questions.

• Because all scientific disciplines make assumptions

• because society is seen as a complex system.

• to guide their thinking and research.

If there can be multiple interpretations (paradigms) for the same data, how is sociology a science?

• Actually, ALL scientific disciplines make assumptions about the world and ALL scientific disciplines use different perspectives depending on the questions they're asking, so sociology is no exception.

• Because the raw facts don't interpret themselves

• It is a major source of diversity in sociological perspectives

• Because society is complex.

What is a major source of diversity in sociological perspectives (paradigms)?

• Expert explanations

• The fundamental assumptions

• The fact that sociology examines social behavior at all scales means it requires several models to fully address the various phenomena at widely disparate scales.

• Complex behavior

Large-scale (i.e., What caused the transition from feudalism to capitalism?)

• Macro

• Micro

• Colossal

• Gigantic

Small-scale (i.e., Do doctors talk to patients of different races differently?)

• Mice Scale

• Matrimonial

• Micro

• Macro

Are macro and micro questions isolated from each other?

• No

• Yes

• They are not related

• I have no idea

Answer explanation

No--understanding micro-level tendencies can explain macro-level effects, and vice versa.

Society is seen as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order, focusing on how large structures fit together.

+Mostly macro-level paradigm

• Structural Functionalism

• Conflict theory

• Symbolic interactionism

• Positivism