Sociology 210 Study Guide

A sociological perspective is a framework for thinking about, describing, or explaining how human activities are organized and how people relate to one another and respond to their surroundings.

issues of social structure", and how it helps us to understand the society in which we live in.

Everyone in the world has a theory about why something happens or how it happens, but in sociology there are many different types of theories that often contradict each other. Theory is defined as “a statement of how and why specific facts are related” (Macionis, 2013). Most theories explain why people act in certain ways and explains why a person in a group may act different than someone that is alone. When building sociological theories most sociologist ask their selves two different questions: “What issues should we study?” and “How should we connect the facts?” (Macionis, 2013). By answering these questions the sociologist is led to a road map, or a theoretical approach. Theoretical approach is described as “a basic image of society that

One of the strengths of Functional-structural perspective is positive about society. The theorists believe that the family

Sociological theory is a set of well defined concepts interrelated and interlinked with each other. The propositions contain concepts inter-related with each other with a logical explanation. Sociological theories are scientific and systematic symbolic construction which must be valid and reasonable but subjected to verification in the initial stages.

A key part of engaging in sociology is to adopt a sociological viewpoint or 'think sociologically'. Etymologically, sociology is the 'study of society' but this doesn't differentiate sociology from other forms of social study. Hence, many begin to describe thinking sociologically by what it is not - it is not thinking politically, thinking anthropologically, thinking historically or thinking psychologically, for example (Berger 1966: 11-36; Reiss 1968: 2-3). Others try to determine the nature of sociological thinking by detailing practical phenomena which can be thought about such as social systems and their subsystems, social institutions and social structure, and social aggregates, relationships, groups and organisations (Reiss 1968: 1),

Sociology is a social science that enables people to understand the structure and dynamics of society. By using a scientific approach, and by critically analysing society using qualitative and quantitative methods, sociologists can find patterns and connections within human behaviour to provide explanations of how society affects people. Sociological views are based on theories that have been tested through unbiased research and attempt to take all values into account. Common sense theories are generally individualistic and naturalistic assumptions that are based on opinions than can vary depending on an individuals

Second each structure has a function that contributes to the continued stability or equilibrium of the unified whole. Therefore, everything is perceived in a “big picture” from a macro point of view on life in our society. Manifest functions are the obvious, intended functions of a social structure, while latent functions are the less obvious, perhaps unintended functions.

The structural functionalism theory attempts to explain: why society functions the way it does by focusing on the relationships between

In order to understand have theory of Sociological perspectives you must first define the three major philosophies. The first sociological perspective will be the symbolic interactionist perspective which focus on the everyday details of life. They look at how people interpret different signs and symbolic images that have a specific meaning to the originator but sometimes loses meaning to the receiver. Since words are not concrete and can sometime be manipulated to another person to justify why they thought this was the correct interpretation. The second sociological perspective I would like to address is the Functionalist perceptive which focus on how we are held together by adapting to social consensus. The majority

Social structures tend to influence the decisions an individual acts upon in a society. Social structures are exterior beliefs or perceptions that affect or interfere with our ego and conscience. Social structures work closely together with social units because social units are about the person, while social structures are about the person intergrading the exterior influences with his conscience to make a decision in a society. “Social structures the stable patterns of interactions, statuses, roles, and organizations that provide stability for the society and bring order to individuals’ lives. For example, I am a member of the Roman Catholic Church and I belong to the Republican political party. Using the examples I used for social units, my religion and political party will affect me when trying to make a decision. Society may see it as normal to abort, participate in pre-martial sex or use contraceptives during sex but my religion sees it as morally wrong to do any of these examples. The demands and beliefs of my religion will interfere with my conscience when trying to do a decision that society expects me or allows me to do. “Christians are

The structural functionalism approach is a framework for all parts of society to work and function together. This theory points to social structure, which

"Functionalist Perspectives” also known as "Structural-Functional Paradigm”- “The sociological approach that views society as a stable, orderly system. According to this perspective, a society is composed of interrelated parts, each of which serves a function and (ideally) contributes to the overall stability of the society. Societies develop social structures, or institutions that persist because they play a part in helping society survive. These institutions include the family, education, government, religion, and the economy. If anything adverse happens to one of these institutions or parts, all

Theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social world in which we live.

Sociological theory is something that is tested and proven;it attempts to make sense of scientific data or empirical observations collected on human societies. Sociological theory relies on scientific method and is objective it does not presume to judge society.Theory is used for the interpretation of empirical research it is an ‘explanation of observed regularities and