sociology chapter 1: the sociological point of view

SOCIOLOGYCHAPTER 1: THE

SOCIOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW

Section 1 is going to be your responsibility. Please read it.

Sociology develops in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Immediate Cause can be traced to the Industrial Revolution.

Why do you think this is so?

Auguste Comte

B. 1798 D. 1857Founder of Sociology1st to use term “Sociology”Concerned with effects of French RevolutionBeliever in scientific method2 basic problems: order and changeSocial StaticsSocial DynamicsPracticed cerebral hygiene

Karl Marx

B. 1818D. 1883Felt society was influenced by the economy2 groups in society: Bourgeoisie ProletariatFocused on class conflictSociologist-king Sociologists should work to improve society

Herbert Spencer

B. 1820D. 1903Influenced by Charles DarwinSaw society as an organismIndividuals were the cellsDeveloped Social Darwinsim Applies Darwin to societyBeliever in cerebral hygiene

Emile Durkheim

B. 1858D. 1917Scientific methodFocus was on problem of social orderSaw society as set of interdependent parts that maintain orderEach part has a functionOnly study observable aspects

Max Weber

B. 1864D. 1917Interest was groups within societyTried to uncover why people do what they do in a groupDeveloped concepts of verstehen and ideal type

Theoretical Perspectives

A set of specific ideas about social life Three perspectives in sociology:

Functionalist Conflict Interactionist

Functionalist Perspective

Based on the work of Comte, Durkheim and Spencer

Society is based on parts that work together to maintain order

MOST people agree on what is best for society Manifest Function Latent Function Functionalists are interested in topics such as

the functioning of the family and education within society

Conflict Perspective

Based on the work of Karl Marx Competition and change Social conflict is based on competition for

scarce resources Social conflict leads to social change Interests include how those in power

maintain it

Interactionist Perspective

Based on the work of Max Weber Main focus is on how people interact

within society Symbolic interaction

How people use symbols when interacting Topics of interest include child

development and mate selection

Sociological Imagination

Developed by C. Wright Mills Ability to see the world though another’s

eyes

Research Methods

4 Broad Categories: Surveys Experiments Observational Studies Analysis of existing sources

Questionnaire

Can be either mailed or in person List of questions/statements people

respond to Can be sent through mail

Advantages Reach large #'s of people

Disadvantages Rely only on survey answers What if the question was not read correctly?

Interview

People respond orally to questions Can be done in person or over phone

Advantages Can tell if question is understood Can ask for clarificationDisadvantages

Time consuming and expensive

Observational Studies

Watch people in social situations Participant Observation

Studies in which observer lives for extended periods with people being studied

Detached Observation Studies in which observer ‘keeps his distance’