Theories and perspectives

Question 1

sociological theories

Answer 1

seek to explain empirical findings and try to avoid the sociologist’s personal beliefs and political commitments interfering with their work

Question 2

modernity

Answer 2

refers to an era characterized by a combination of rationalization, democratization, individualism, growing reliance on scientific thinking and rapid, continuous technological development

Question 3

why is comptean positivism rejected

Answer 3

because it seems to suggest that people can be shaped and controlled, a notion that many view as impossible, dangerous or both

Question 4

mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity

Answer 4

mechanical solidarity exists when individualis is minimized and the individual is subsumed within the collectivity. By contrast, organic solidarity is generated by the extensive division of labour in industrial societies, which produces many differences in work tasks, roles and statuses, but a strong form of cohesion is achieved because large groups of individuals in very different industries become dependent on each other

Question 5

Parsons’ AGIL paradigm

Answer 5

• adaptive function - economic sub-system
• goals - political sub-system
• integrative work - community sub-system
• latency function - educational sub-system

Question 6

symbolic interactionalism

Answer 6

a general label covering approaches that investigate social interactions with a focus on language and symbols

Question 7

ethnomethodology

Answer 7

the systematic study of the methods used by ‘natives’ (members of a particualr society) to construct their social worlds

Question 8

phenomenology

Answer 8

an actor-centered perspective which deals with the ways in which social life is atually experienced. Literally, phenomenology is the study of phenomena - things as they appear in our experience