Transcript
Week 2 notes
To start off, a bit of review....
The sociological imagination allows us to see how the larger forces of time and place shape our personal lives and the society in which we live.
Source: Seeing Sociology, Ferrante.
In the spirit of review, I will ask you (in the Week 2 paper) to describe a way in which your life (or the life of someone you know) has been shaped by some larger social forces.
Chapter 2
Examining the Social World: How Do We Know?
Chapter Overview
Chapter two focuses primarily on the development, methods, and primary theories of sociology. The chapter begins with a discussion of the foundations of sociology and assumptions of science. Then, the process of conducting empirical research is discussed, with a focus on the primary methodologies of sociology. Here, ethical issues in sociological research are addressed. Finally, the major theories of sociology (including symbolic interaction, rational choice theory, the structural-functionalist perspective, conflict perspective, and feminist theory) and their criticisms are explained.
Assignment: Read chapter two and continue through Week 2 notes and any links. There is a lot of "theory" and "stats" and these things are important for this class and other sociology classes you might take, so try to really absorb the information. This information will be on the quiz also.
Below is another chart that I like that outlines the major paradigms:
To help with your understanding of the paradigms, consider the following pieces of artwork as illustrations of the major paradigms.
STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL:
Conflict Theory:
Symbolic Interaction:
FYI ONLY...a tool: This chart may help you understand/organize the major paradigms. It may be helpful for when you take the quiz.
PARADIGM METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK / KEY THEORISTS KEY IDEAS CRITICISMS OF PARADIGM BY OTHERS VIEW ON DIVORCE VIEW ON CRIME
Structural-Functional
Social Conflict
Symbolic Interaction
Rational Choice
Feminist Theory
