concepts, theories, and paradigms Flashcards
what theory is this: it’s used to help identify the historical and societal forces influencing our daily lives, and to offer the kinds of questions to ask in a study of social behaviour provides specialized language
sociological theory
_______ relate to the questions of “why” in relation to social life
theories
research questions flow from…
theoretical positions
what are the three elements of sociological theory?
definitions and concept, descriptions, and relationships
why do we need theory?
helps to make sense of patterns and suggests possibilities for change/action, shapes and directs future research, researchers tend to use theories that are associated with particular paradigms
what is a paradigm?
set of ideas, a way of looking at something
________ are often implicit, assumed or taken for granted
paradigms
social scientific paradigms are…
different ways of looking at human social life
each ______________ has fundamental assumptions about the nature of social reality
social scientific paradigm
____________ aren’t true or false - they’re more or less useful
social scientific paradigm
what are the three kinds of positivist paradigm?
enlightenment, modernity, postpositivism
what is enlightenment?
religious paradigm was shifted by philosophical paradigm
what is modernity?
philosophical paradigm shifts towards positivist paradigms based on empirical observations
what is postpositivism?
empirical observations are influenced by subjectivity
what is the conflict paradigm?
social groups have conflicting interests. ex. karl marx
what are the 4-c’s for conflict-orientated paradigms?
contestation, conflict, classification, change
what is intersectionality?
a multi-factor approach to social research. recognizes forms of inequality
what is interpretivist paradigms?
critique of positivist paradigms and focused on the interpretation of human actions based on the subjective meaning that people give their actions.
who is georg simmel?
interactionist paradigms, interested in the social interaction in small groups
who is george herbert mead?
interactionist paradigm, developed symbolic interactionism - we are socialized to take on the role of the generalized other
what is symbolic interactionism?
individuals create common understanding through the use of language and other symbolic systems
what is structural functionalism?
social organizations it institutions can be understood as organisms or systems with various components serving different functions
who is emile durkheim
structural functionalism, suggested that crime and punishment affirms societal values
who is nancy hartsock, dorothy smith, and patricia hill-collins?
feminist and critical paradigms, feminist researchers begin to look at the social world from the standpoint of women
