Chapter 2 Thinking About and Researching the Social World .docx
Ways of Seeing-A Brief Overview and Analysis of the Three Dominant Sociological Approaches
1. “Ways of Seeing”:
A Brief Overview and Analysis of
the Three Dominant Sociological
Approaches
Sarah Perry Johnson, MSW
Antelope Valley College
Sociology 101
Spring 2015
3. Sociology: Meaning and Purpose
• Sociology=the study of society and its structures,
institutions, and processes
▫ Socio- means society or people
▫ -logy means study of
• Sociologists have the job of describing,
explaining, and interpreting social phenomena.
• Sociologist use theoretical paradigms in order to
frame their way of seeing the world.
4. Macro and Micro-level Orientation
• The field of Sociology formulates theoretical
perspectives that reflect a certain level of
analysis (orientation) and espouse a certain view
of society.
• Two levels of analysis exist:
▫ Macro-level
▫ Micro-level
5. Macro-and Micro-level orientation
(Continued)
Macro-level orientation
• Broad focus on social structures that shape the
society
• “Big picture” view
▫ Social structures
▫ Societal institutions
▫ Political, economic, social structures
• Theories that reflect a macro-level orientation:
▫ Structural Functionalism
▫ Social Conflict
6. Macro-and Micro-level orientation
(Continued)
Micro-level orientation
• Closer focus on social interaction in specific
situations
• “Small picture” view
▫ Individual interactions
▫ Social transactions
• Theory that reflect a micro-level orientation:
▫ Symbolic Interaction
8. Important Definitions
• Approach=an overarching perspective or viewpoint which is used
to examine various facets of society
• Theory=a set of logically interrelated statements that attempt to
describe, explain, or predict social phenomena
Each of the three theoretical approaches reflect a certain view of
society.
• Structural-Functional Approach: a theoretical approach that
views society as “a complex system whose parts work/function
together to promote solidarity and stability” (Macionis, 2008:14)
• Social-Conflict Approach: a theoretical approach that view
society as “an arena of inequality that generates conflict and
change” (Macionis 2008:15)
• Symbolic Interaction Approach: a theoretical approach that
views society as “the product of the everyday interaction of
individuals” (Macionis 2008:17)
9. Structural Functional Approach
Structural-Functional Approach
• Macro-level Theory
• Classification: Positivist
• Explores how social structures work together to help
society operate
• Sociologist’s Role: Scientist, Observer
• Theorists:
▫ Auguste Comte
▫ Emile Durkheim
▫ Herbert Spencer
▫ Robert K. Merton
10. Structural Functional
Approach (Continued)
Themes:
Order
Consensus
Organism analogy
Norm Maintenance
• Major Assumptions of
Theory/Strengths of the
Theory:
▫ Society is seen as a system
composed of interrelated
parts that are static.
▫ The various parts of the
society works to establish
and maintain social order.
▫ There is consensus amongst
society’s members regarding
the values and norms of
society, which leads to the
maintenance of the status
quo. (Macionis 2008)
11. Structural Functional Approach
(Continued)
• Major Critiques of theory:
▫ Inequality is not viewed as a problem but is
functional for society.
▫ This theory is not open to social change and
does not address issues of power and conflict.
▫ This theory supports the maintenance of the
status quo and incorrectly asserts that there is
widespread consensus amongst the members of
society.
12. Social-Conflict Approach
Social-Conflict Approach
• Macro-level Theory
• Classification: Evaluative/Non-Scientific
• Explores how inequality creates conflict and causes
change
• Sociologist’s Role: Activist, Participant
• Theorists:
▫ Karl Marx (Marxism/Class-Conflict)
▫ W.E.B. Du Bois (Race-Conflict)
▫ Harriet Martineau (Feminism, Gender-Conflict)
13. Social-Conflict Approach
(Continued)
Themes:
Conflict
Inequality
Power Differentials
Competition for
Scarce Resources
• Major Assumptions of
Theory/Strengths of the
Theory:
▫ Society is seen as a system
that is characterized by class,
race, and gender inequality.
▫ An imbalance of power
creates a society that
benefits certain categories of
people and harms others; the
maintenance of the status
quo gives advantage to some
and disenfranchises others.
▫ Social inequality causes
conflict that eventually leads
to social change. (Macionis
2008)
14. Social-Conflict Theory (Continued)
Major Critiques of Theory:
▫ This theory has a past overemphasis on class
conflict (Marxism).
▫ This theory ignores evidence of social stability,
shared values, and equitable exchange in
society.
▫ This theory has limited scientific objectivity
due to the participatory nature of the
sociologist’s role as an activist.
15. Symbolic Interactionist Approach
Symbolic-Interactionist Approach
• Micro-level theory
• Classification: Interpretive
• Explores how people construct reality in
everyday interactions via symbols
• Sociologist’s Role: Interpreter
• Theorists:
▫ Max Weber
▫ Erving Goffman
16. Symbolic Interactionist
Approach (Continued)
Themes:
Pluralism
Subjectivity
Interaction
Interpretation of
Symbols
Social Construction
of Reality
• Major Assumptions of
Theory/Strengths of the
Theory:
▫ Society is constantly
changing and is an
ongoing process.
▫ Individuals interact in
various settings using
symbolic communication.
▫ The social realities
experienced by individuals
are variable and ever-
changing.
17. Symbolic Interactionist Approach
Major Critiques of Theory:
▫ This theory has a myopic focus on small-scale
social interactions and is too psychologically based
in its approach to social analysis.
▫ This theory has an overemphasis on individuals,
thus creating a lack of generalizability to macro-
level social structures.
▫ This theory does not address or explain large-scale
processes, the origins of social change, and power
differentials.
