Sociological Paradigms

A paradigm can be defined as:

• Philosophical and theoretical frameworks used within a discipline to formulate theories, generalizations, and the experiments performed in support of them.

• The social ties that bind a group of people together such as kinship, shared location, and religion

• The consequences of a social process that are sought or anticipated

• Social patterns that have undesirable consequences for the operation of society

Jeremy wrote an essay criticizing the college admissions process, arguing that heavy competition and limited educational resources make admission difficult for the average student. Which perspective would Jeremy’s argument fall under?

• Structural Functionalism

• Conflict Theory

• Symbolic Interactionism

• Behaviorism

_________believed that societies grew and changed as a result of the struggles of different social classes over the means of production and greatly favored ___________.

• Durkheim; Communism

• Max Weber; Antipositivism

• Karl Marx; Communism

• Comte; Positivism

Which theorist claimed that people rise to their proper level in society based solely on their belief in a meritocracy?

• Karl Marx

• Max Weber

• Herbert Spencer

• Émile Durkheim

Eleanor is researching the effect social media has on worldwide political awareness and revolution. Felix is examining the effect World of Warcraft has on the romantic relationships of middle-aged men in his metro area.  Eleanor’s analysis is _____, while Felix’s analysis is _____.

• Micro-level; Macro-level

• Macro-level; Micro-level

• They are both macro-level.

• They are both micro-level.

_________ view society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of individuals who make up that society.

• Symbolic Interactionists
• Conflict Theorists

• 1. Structural Functionalists

• 1. Social Individualists

Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and Karl Marx were all advocates of:

• Conflict theory

• Structural functionalism

• Capitalism

• Symbolic interactionism

A ______ would be most interested in the relationship and nature of day-to-day exchanges between the two groups.

• Conflict theorist

• Structural functionalist

• Symbolic interactionist

• Feminist conflict theorist

Weber’s proposal of antipositivism influenced sociological researchers to ______ while examining different social worlds.

• Reject antiquated notions of privacy and consent

• Methodically predict situational outcomes

• Manipulate test subjects into answering difficult questions

• Gain a subjective understanding of human cultural norms

According to Durkheim, which of the following is NOT a social fact?

• A religious belief

• A law

• A custom

• All of the above are social facts