Two Meta-Theoretical Sociological Paradigms
ala Kenneth Allan
“OBJECTIVE” SCIENTIFIC
INTERPRETIVE, HERMENEUTIC*
Assumptions:
• The social world is empirical.
• It operates according to impersonal
and law-like principles.
• These principles can be discovered.
• These principles can be utilized.
• The social world is symbolic.
• It is collectively produced through on-going
subjective “moves.”
• These moves can be uncovered.
Goals:
• Explain phenomena.
• Predict phenomena.
• Control phenomena.
• Cumulate knowledge.
(“frontier,” cutting edge)
• Understand diverse social worlds.
• Anticipate phenomena.
• React intelligently to phenomena.
• Collect knowledge.
(“picture puzzle”)
Theoretical
Elements:
• Abstract concepts.
• Explicit definitions.
• Logical relationships.
• Analogies, metaphors, typologies.
• Ideal types, thick descriptions.
• Analytical frames, interdependent
connections.
(Descriptive Sociology)
(Critical Sociology)
*Definition: either the art of interpretation, or the theory and practice of interpretation