APPROACH
LEVEL OF ANALYSIS
PURPOSE
STRENGTH
WEAKNESS
Rational Choice
Theory
Micro
Symbolic
Interactionism
Micro
It provides a standard
against which action
can be judged and
indicates variables
that might lead to
departure from
rationality
Underscores the
relationship between
the meaning of
symbols and a
person’s behaviour. In
a way, certain
behaviours may be
predicted.
Individuals to not
often act rationally in
the standard sense
and are
motivationally and
psychologically
complex.
Symbols may be
interpreted
incorrectly or
differently among
different groups of
people.
Psychoanalytic
Theory
Micro
It can be used to
explain the nature of
human development
and all aspects of
mental functioning.
Human objects are
not reducible to
anatomy, physics, or
chemistry.
Id, Ego and Superego
Structural
Functionalism
Macro
To identify the best
course of action
among several
choices, which would
yield the optimum
level of satisfaction to
the individual
Focuses on the
different meanings
individuals attach to
objects, people, and
interactions as well as
the corresponding
behaviours that
reflect those
meanings and/ or
interpretations.
Aims to explain why
people develop
unique patterns of
behaviour by framing
a general theory of
personality.
Builds theories that
see society as a
complex system
whose parts work
together to promote
solidarity and stability
Too much focus on
stability and
consensus
Manifest Function,
Latent Function,
adaption, goal
attainment,
integration, latency,
social dysfunction
Marxism
Macro
Explains how social
structure shapes lives
in various contexts,
such as the family,
the workplace,
classroom, and
community
It is able to highlight
the exploitive nature
of the capitalist
economic system and
It failed to offer a
convincing
explanation for
different countries
Capitalist,
proletarians,
proletarian
revolution, class
To explain the
basis/cause of social
inequalities
KEY CONCEPT OF
IDEAS
Preferences,
Beliefs, feasible
strategies, game
theory
Self, generalized
other
how it gives rise to
classes, social
divisions, and conflict.
Feminist Theory
Macro
Aims to enhance
women’s status and
power
Debunked the private
public dichotomy
Institutionalism
Macro
Concentrates
attention on the
authorities engaged
in public
administration,
analyses history,
structure, functions,
power and
relationships
The theory offers an
opportunity for
infusing into the
empirical study of
politics the analysis of
political values.
economic, social and
political
developments, which
were founded on
capitalist framework.
The lack of a singular
agenda is reflected in
the pluralism and
diversity of
perspectives within
the feminist
framework
It has problems in
explaining social and
political change,
notably in institutions
themselves, and often
resorts to claims
about exogenous and
unpredictable shocks
or the actions of
various agents.
conflict, class
consciousness,
alienation
Liberal Feminism,
Marxist Feminism,
radical feminism,
women’s liberation
movement
Old/ Classic
institutionalism, new
intuitionalism,
descriptive- inductive,
formal-legal and
historical
comparative.