Concise Flashcards
What are the key feature of positivism in sociology?
- Believes sociology should use methods of natural sciences (quantitative).
- Sees society as an objective reality.
- Emphasises social facts, patterns and laws.
- Favours methods like experiments, questionnaires and official stats.
Who are key positivist thinkers?
Durkheim and Comte.
What are the key features of interpretivism?
- Sees reality as socially constructed - seeks to understand meanings.
- Uses qualitative methods e.g. interviews, observation.
- Focus on verstehen (empathetic understanding).
- Rejects scientific model.
Key interpretivist thinkers
Weber, Becker and Atkinson.
What is methodological pluralism?
- Using multiple methods (quantitative and qualitative).
- Helps improve validity and reliability.
- Reflects the complexity of social life.
Example of methodological pluralism?
Willis’ study of education using observations and interviews.
What are main characteristics of functionalism?
- Consensus theory - sees society as a system of interdependent parts.
- Key concepts = social solidarity, value consensus and anomie.
- Uses organic analogy.
Key thinkers of functionalism
- Durkheim - social facts and anomie.
- Parsons - GAIL
- Merton.
Evaluation of functionalism
Deterministic, neglects conflict and change.
What are the key features of Marxism?
- Conflict theory - focus on class inequality and capitalism.
- Sees ideology and institutions (e.g. education) as tools of ruling class.
- Superstructures serve capitalism.
- Revolution leads to communism.
Key thinkers of Marxism
- Marx
- Althusser - ideological and repressive state apparatus
- Gramsci - hegemony.
Evaluation of Marxism
Deterministic, economic reductionism and lacks agency.
What is Neo-Marxism?
- Updated Marxism - considers culture and ideas e.g. Gramsci’s hegemony.
Who are Neo-Marxist theorists?
Frankfurt school, Gramsci and Althusser.
Evaluation of Neo-Marxism?
More flexible but still focused on class.
What are the main ideas of Feminist theories?
- Focus on gender inequality and patriarchy.
- Liberal - legal/ political reform (Oakley).
- Marxist - capitalism and patriarchy (Ansley).
- Radical - male domination (Firestone).
- Intersectional - multiple identities (Crenshaw).
Evaluation of feminist theories
Overemphasise gender, generalises women’s experiences.
What are the main features of social action theories?
- Micro-level - focus on individual actions and meanings.
- Weber - verstehen and ideal types.
- Symbolic interactionism - Mead, Blumer - meaning is created through interaction.
- Labelling theory - Becker - deviance is socially constructed.
Evaluation of social action theories
Ignores structure, not generalisable.
What is the difference between modernity and postmodernity in sociology?
- Modernity - belief in progress, science, meta-narratives e.g. Marxism.
- Postmodernity - fragmentation, consumerism and media saturation.
Lyotard
Disbelief in meta-narratives.
Baudrillard
Hyperreality
Evaluation of modernity and postmodernity
Seen as vague and lacks empirical support.
Should sociology be value free?
- Positivists - yes, avoid bias, be scientific.
- INterpretivists - research is value-laden, values shape topics/ methods.
- Weber - values guide research choice but not findings.
- Gouldner - all reasearch is influenced by values.
- Becker -takes the side of the underdog - all research has a perspective.
Evaluation of the value-free debate
Complete objectivity is unrealistic.
What are the advantages of official stats
Cheap, quick, covers large populations and useful for trends.
Disadvantages of official stats
May lack validity, definitions may differ, collected for state not researchers.
How do positivists and interpretivists see official stats?
- P = favour them.
- I = questions validity.
What is triangulation and why is it useful?
- Using multiple methods in one study to cross-check data.
- Increases reliability, validity and depth.
- Favoured by Realists.
Example of triangulation
The British Crime Survey combines stats and interviews.
What is structuration theory (Giddens)
- Combines structure and action.
- Structure shapes behaviour it is also reproduced/ changed by it.
- ‘duality of structure.’
Evaluation of structural ion theory
Useful bridge but vague in application.
Can sociology be seen as a science - positivist
- Yes - society governed by laws like nature.
- Use quantitative, objective methods.
- Aim = discover cause and effect.
- Durkheim - social facts can be measured scientifically.
Can sociology be a science interpretivists?
- No- humans have consciousness, behaviour cant be measured like objects.
- Focus on verstehen and subjective meanings.
- Qualitative methods preferred.
What is Popper’s view of science and sociology?
- Science = falsification.
- Sociology not scientific if it can’t be tested.
- Sociology can become scientific if hypotheses are testable.
Evaluation of Popper
Means many sociological theories are unfalsifiable e.g. Marxism
What does Kuhn say about science?
- Science works with paradigms.
- Only becomes scientific after a paradigm shift.
- Sociology is pre-paradigmatic (conflicting theories).
Evaluation of Kuhn
Sociology’s diversity could be its strength.
What is the impact of values on sociological research?
- affect research topics, methods and interpretation.
- Funding bodies can influence outcomes.
- Research often reflects the internet of powerful (Marxist critique)
What is the relationship between sociology and social policy?
- Sociology can inform policy e.g. poverty, crime, education.
- Functionalists - helps improve society.
- Marxists - serves capitalism e.g. welfare = safety valve.
- Feminists - reinforce patriarchy.
- NR - critical of state intervention, prefer individual responsibility.
Evaluation of social policy
Impact varies depending on political ideology
Why might social policy influence policy more or less?
- Depends on values, political ideology and funding.
- If findings lion with govt agenda, more likely to be used.
- Practical and ethical concerns e.g. sensitive topics.
- Public attitudes ad media framing also play a role.
Practical strengths and limitations of questionnaires
- Quick.
- Large samples.
- Low response rates.
Ethical strengths/ limitations of questionnaires
- Anonymity
- Impersonal.
Theoretical strength/ limits of questionnaires
- Reliable
- Representative
- Lack depth
Practical strengths/ limits of PO in school
- Time consuming
- Access
Ethical strengths/ issues of PO
- Deception (covert)
- Hawthorne effect (overt)
Theoretical strengths/ issues of PO
- Valid
- Not reliable
- Not representative
