Continuity and change Flashcards
What is a theorist?
Someone who comes up with an idea and has done extensive research.
What must we cover when discussing theories?
Theorist, main idea, level (Micro, mesio), key features, criticisms, example
What is conflict theory?
By Karl Marx, based on the idea that change in society is usually due to inequalities. Change occurs when people with no or little power challenge the people that do have power and as the conflict occurs, so does social change. CONFLICT= CHANGE. Level= Macro Main fetures: People competing for power, and resources, classes in society, working class support eachother, struggle for power reaches breaking point Criticisms: doesnt explain technological impact on soicety or changes to family organisation, neglects socil stability, Example: Civil rights movement, activists challenged by racially unequal distribution of political power and economic reosurces.
What is functionalist theory?
By Emile Durkheim.
Functionalism views society as a social system of interconnected parts, all relying on one another, soicety works because of the fmily, school, police working together. they all have part to play
Critisicisms: emphasis on social stability not social change, doesnt deal with rapid change, society will adjust to any problems that arise, doesnt consider the negative social order impact, doesnt encourage people to particpiate,
Examples: elements of society are functional if they contribute to socil stability and dysfunctional if they disrupt social stability
What is symbolic interaction-ism theory?
By GeorgeHerbert Mead.This theory relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction. Symbolic theory analyses society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events and behaviours. Subjective meanings are given primacy because it is believed tht people brhave based on what they believe not just on what is objectively true. society is thought to be constructed through human interpretation. Criticisms: nelgects the macro level, the bigger picture, larger issues of society, no attempt to explain macro level social change, over emphasis on individual and not much focus on social structures
Example: A girl uses her cell phone to interact with others and create her own reality
What is evolutionary theory?
By Charles Darwin. Principle aruging that the differences between various social groups were based on biological evolution. Every society develops over time and passes though the same processes of change, apsiring to reach the same destination.
Considers all change as progress.
Critiscms: Assumes all societies follow the same path, beleives post industrial societies are superior to primitive societies, describes social change, rather thn why it occurs, ethnocentric view of the world, does not account for cultural diffusion and blending societies
What is a case study? And the advantages and disadvantages
Collecting information about one person or a small group by combining a number of methodologies, such as interview, survey etc, secondary reserch. Advantages: Qualitative data, comparison of case study to secondary research is good for results. Disadvantages: Very involved, need to do justice to get good marks, time consuming
What is a focus group? Advantages and disadvantages
Interviewing 3 to 8 people at a time. they generate discussion, and flow of ideas. peoples views are challenged. interviewer can be flexible
Advantages: Save time by gaining thoughts or so many people at a time, good qualititatve info,
Disadvantage: Listening to the recording made can be time consuming, group must be managed to stay on track, organsing a time everyone is availabe can be tricky
What is particpiant observation?
Reearch immerses in the action that is being researched. Data is collected by observer, quantitatively, and qualitatively, though researcher must be aware of bias
Adv: Good qualitative, and quantitative, real insgiht to first hand experience, good whenyour presence has no impact on the chosen individual
Disadv: Possible bias from observer, as your presence could impact on the situation interaction.
What are three directions of change?
Linear patterns: change is cumulative, non-repetitive, it involves the transition from small, societies to large societies with a high degree of structural differentiation.
- Cyclical patterns imply tht change is repetitve, which can explain the rise ad fall of civilisations
- Dialectical patterns are a combination of the previous two patterns, making a spiral patter where short term repetitive change, but long term directionl change, are evident.
Define modernisation
The process of change froma traditional to modern society. For a society to become modern it goes through industrialisation, and involes the decline of traditional authority and pratices.
example: Tradintional: kings, queens ruling a society, to modern, instituional change, legislative bodies, educational systems and political parties
What is the influence C+C has on technology?
Rate of change is doubling every decade. Having a huhge overload of change, hard to keep up with basically
What is continuity?
Any object, process, or type of system that persists in a 2 more time period. It gives society security,if things always changed it would be chaos, social structures thrive on continuity, eg rules, standards, goverment
What is transformative change
Dramatic, takes place in a shorter time frame, triggered by technology, strong social movements, rebeliions etc. It occurs at all lebels, by altering social structures and systems in society, by shfiting expectations, values and actions example: womans suffrage movement
what is evolutionary change
The changes that accumulate over a long period of time, to alter society on a large scale. eg. slow social change, environmentalism
