common sense and sociological research
common sense and sociological research
What Do Sociologists Do?
This Chapter Will Help You:
Understand the difference between common sense and sociological research
Outline the major perspectives in sociology
Identify the difference between qualitative and quantitative research
Identify the various types of research methods that sociologists use
Understand the importance of ethics in social science research
What is Common Sense?
Knowledge we get from our lived experience
May be accurate, but is not always reliable
Things that are commonly known are not necessarily factual
Fake News
Have you seen this meme?
It was circulated widely on social media as “factual”
In reality, research shows that this information is completely inaccurate
Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
What is a Theory?
A set of propositions intended to explain social phenomena
May be used to explain or predict a phenomenon
Theories can help us understand the relationships between variables
Major Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism
Functionalism focuses on social stability
Functionalists view society as a set of interconnected parts
This is similar to how the human body works
Social institutions persist because they help society to survive
Functionalism, cont’d – Talcott Parsons
Society tends toward balance or equilibrium
As one part of society changes, other parts must adjust to maintain social stability
Functionalism, cont’d – Robert Merton
Manifest Functions
The intended outcomes generated by a social institution
Latent Functions
The unintended or less visible outcomes of a social institution
Dysfunctions
A system that is not functioning properly is dysfunctional
Functionalism: Emile Durkheim
Studied how rapid social change affects social stability
As societies grow more complex, people have fewer commonalities
Less social solidarity
This may result in anomie:
A feeling of normlessness
Major Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict Theory
Conflict theorists focus on the importance of conflict and change
They study inequality and exploitation
They see social life as a continuing struggle for fairness, security, and respect
Conflict Theories, cont’d – Karl Marx
Marx focuses on capitalism’s mode of production:
A way of producing the material things we need to survive
The capitalist mode of production produces a particular social order:
The bourgeoisie own the means of industrial production
The proletariat work for a wage and produce profits for the bourgeoisie
Conflict Theory cont’d – Karl Marx
Marx believed that the capitalist social order exploited the proletariat
Class consciousness:
Marx believed that if the workers recognized their common exploitation and their common power, they could overthrow the business owners
Major Theoretical Perspectives: Symbolic Interactionism
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