Sociological perspectives, theories, or paradigms, are complex theoretical and methodological frameworks used to analyze and explain an object of social study.
Theory is informed by epistemological discussions as to the most reliable and valid methods to use in the conduct of social science. Perspectives also relate to core assumptions regarding the ontological nature of the social world. Theory is thus informed by historical debates over positivism and antipositivism, debates over the primacy of structure and agency, as well as debates relating to other fundamental key concepts in the social sciences and humanities in general (e.g. materialism, idealism, determinism, dialecticism, modernity, globalization, postmodernity, and so on). Certain schools of thought, such as structural functionalism, systems theory, and classical structural Marxism, attempt to emphasise scientific objectivity and value neutrality. Other perspectives, such as feminist theory, queer theory, and variants of neo-Marxism, are motivated by normative critique and a concern for the liberation of individuals from forms of oppression and exploitation.
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List of sociological theories
General theories
- Also see: Social theory
Some of the major general sociological theories (and their variants) include:
- Conflict theory: focuses on the ability of some groups to dominate others, or resistance to such domination.
- Critical theory: aims to critique and change society, not simply to document and understand it.
- Ethnomethodology: examines how people make sense out of social life in the process of living it, as if each were a researcher engaged in enquiry.
- Feminist theory: focuses on how gender inequality has shaped social life.
- Functionalism: focuses on how elements of society need to work together to have a fully functioning whole.
- Interpretive sociology: This theoretical perspective, based on the work of Max Weber, proposes that social, economic and historical research can never be fully empirical or descriptive as one must always approach it with a conceptual apparatus.
- Social phenomenology: The social phenomenology of Alfred Schütz influenced the development of the social constructionism and ethnomethodology.
- Positivism: Social positivists believe that social processes should be studied in terms of cause and effect using 'the' scientific method.
- Also: Sociological positivism
- Postcolonial theory
- Rational choice theory: models social behavior as the interaction of utility maximizing individuals.
- Social constructionism: is a sociological theory of knowledge that considers how social phenomena develop in particular social contexts.
- Structural functionalism: also known as a social systems paradigm, addresses the functions that various elements of the social system perform in regard to the entire system.
- Symbolic interactionism: examines how shared meanings and social patterns are developed in the course of social interactions.
- Dramaturgical perspective - a specialized symbolic interactionism paradigm developed by Erving Goffman, seeing life as a performance
- Queer theory
Criminology
- Differential association theory
- Labeling theory
- Rational choice theory (criminology)
- Social disorganization theory
- Social learning theory
- Strain theory (sociology)
- Subcultural theory
Social movements
Sociologists have developed various theories about social movements [Kendall, 2005]. Chronologically (by approximate date of origin) they include:
- Collective behavior/collective action theories (1950s)
- Relative deprivation theory (1960s)
- Value-added theory (1960s)
- Resource mobilization/Political process theory (1970s)
- Frame analysis theory (1970s)
- New social movement theory (1980s)
- New cultural theory (1990s) -- James Jasper, Jeff Goodwin et al.
Sociology of science and technology
Sociologists have been active in developing theories about the nature of science and technology:
- "Institutional" sociology of science (Robert K. Merton) (1960s)
- Sociology of scientific knowledge (1970s)
- Social construction of technology (1980s) - variant of SSK focusing on technology studies.
- Actor-network theory (1980s)
- Normalization Process Theory (2000s)
See also
References
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This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. (September 2009) |
- Adams, Bert N. and R. A. Sydie. 2001. Sociological Theory. Pine Forge Press
- Babbie, Earl R. 2003. The Practice of Social Research, 10th edition. Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Inc., ISBN 0-534-62029-9
- Michael Hughes, Carolyn J. Kroehler, James W. Vander Zanden. 'Sociology: The Core', McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-240535-XOnline chapter summary
- Ritzer, George and Douglas Goodman. 2004. Sociological Theory, Sixth Edition. McGraw Hill.
External links
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