What is Sociological Theory?
Louisiana Technical University.
RS: His/Social Sci. 11-12: 1,2
RS: Scie/Tech. 11-12: 2,9
WS 11-12: domain specific words, paraphrase, synthesize information
What is Sociological Theory?
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Paradigm: The word has come to refer to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline – an
accepted framework to describe distinct concepts
Sociological Theoretical paradigm: a basic image of society that guides thinking and research.
Theory: a statement of how and why specific facts are related.
Micro-level orientation: a paradigm that focuses on social interaction in specific situations.
Macro-level orientation: a paradigm that focuses on broad social structures that characterize
society as a whole. The focus is on the big picture.
Three Main Sociological Paradigms: Think of these three paradigms as seeing things through the lenses
of different pairs of glasses.
a. Functionalist perspective (macro): a view of society that focuses on the way various parts of society
functions, or positive effects, that maintain the stability of the whole. The focus is on social order and
stability.
b. Conflict perspective (macro): a view of society that focuses on social processes of tension,
competition, and change. It emphasizes power and inequality.
c. Symbolic Interactionism (micro): a view of society that focuses on the way in which people act
toward, respond to, and influence one another. The focus is on social interaction in everyday life.
Meaning is emphasized
1. Using the word paradigm – what might be the meaning of a “paradigm shift”?
2. What would be an example of something in society that has experienced a paradigm shift over the
past 20 years?
3. If you were to study the reasons people take mass transportation in large cities in a macro way – what
reason would you come up with? If you were to look at this in a micro way – what reasons might you
come up with?
What is Sociological Theory?
RS: His/Social Sci. 11-12: 1,2
RS: Scie/Tech. 11-12: 2,9
WS 11-12: domain specific words, paraphrase, synthesize information
Louisiana Technical University.