Ch.1- Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method
- Sociology: the systematic study of human society
- Society: ppl who live in a defined territory and share a culture
Seeing the General in the Particular
- Sociological perspective: seeing the general in the particular
- Look for general patterns in the behaviour of particular ppl
- The general categories that we fall into, shape our particular life experiences (eg. man,
woman)
Seeing Society in Our Everyday Lives
- The society we live in is associated with our decisions (eg. in poorer countries, women
tend to have more children)
- Social integration: categories of ppl with strong social ties (eg. women, Catholics,
wealthy ppl, married ppl) had lower suicide rates than more individualistic ppl
Seeing Sociologically: Marginality and Crisis
Living on the Edge
- The greater people’s social marginality (eg. being an outsider, or being a racial minority),
the better they are able to use the sociological perspective bc they’re more aware of how
their race puts them at disadvantages
Periods of Crisis
- Periods of rapid change/crisis makes ppl feel off balance and encourages us to use the
sociological perspective
- Eg. instead of saying, “smt is wrong w/ me bc I can’t find a job”, they would say, “the
economy has collapsed”
- They use the sociological imagination to understand society and how it affects their life
The Importance of Global Perspective
- Global perspective: the study of the larger world and our society’s place in it
- High income countries: countries w/ the highest standards of living
- We make comparisons between CAN and other nations bc:
- 1. Where we live shapes the lives we lead
- 2. Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected due to tech and
cultural diversity
- 3. What happens in the rest of the world affects life here in CAN bc of trade,
globalization, and the global economy
- 4. Many social problems that we face in CAN are far more serious elsewhere
- 5. Thinking globally helps us learn more about ourselves (eg. why are poor ppl in
loving families in India happy while poor ppl in America are angry?)
Social Changes and Sociology
,A New Industrial Economy
- Instead of labouring at home, ppl became part of a large labour force under factory
owners
- This change took ppl away from their homes, weakening the traditions that had guided
community life for centuries
The Growth of Cities
- Landowners took part in the enclosure movement (fenced off farmland, which were the
source of mills, to create grazing areas for sheep)
- This caused farmers to head to the cities to search for work
- As cities grew larger, social problems like pollution and crime increased
Political Change
- Focus shifted from ppl’s duties to God and the king to self interest which includes
personal liberty and individual rights
A New Awareness of Society
- Individualism and tech advancement made ppl more aware of their surroundings
Science and Sociology
- Auguste Comte coined the term sociology in 1883
- Positivism (Comte’s approach): a scientific approach to knowledge based on positive
facts as opposed to speculation, which means it’s based on science
- Comte’s 3 stages of society: theological, metaphysical, and scientific
Sociology and Public Policy
1. The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of common sense
- Ask ourselves whether common beliefs are true, to the extent that they’re not, and why
they’re so widely held (eg. everyone is responsible for their own lives)
2. The sociological perspective helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our
lives
- We have a say in how to play our cards, but society deals us the hand
3. The sociological perspective empowers us to be active participants in our society
- Turning private problems (eg. being out of work) into public issues (eg. a lack of good
jobs)
4. The sociological perspective helps us live in a diverse world
- Think critically about the strengths and weaknesses of all ways of life
Sociological Theory
- Theory: statement of how and why specific facts are related
- To decide which theory to use, sociologists asks, “what issues should we study?” and
“how should we connect the facts?”
- Theoretical approach: a basic image of society that guides thinking and research
- Sociologists use a road map to see which theoretical approach to use
,The Structural Functional Approach
- Def: a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and stability
- Social structure: any stable pattern of social behaviour. It gives our lives shape in
families, the workplace, etc.
- Social functions: the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a
whole
- Since traditions are breaking down, social structures must operate together to preserve
society
- This approach leads sociologists to identify various structures of society and to
investigate their functions
- Manifest functions: the recognized and intended consequences of social patterns (eg.
higher education to get jobs)
- Latent functions: the unrecognized and unintended consequences of social patterns (eg.
higher education bringing youth of similar social backgrounds to be married)
- Social dysfunction: any social pattern that can disrupt the operation of society
Social Conflict Approach
- Social conflict approach: a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of
inequality that generates conflict and change. Tries to reduce inequality
- Social analysts highlights how social structures like class, race, etc. are linked to
economic and power inequality, benefiting some ppl while hurting others
- Usually privileged ppl wanna protect their privileges and disadvantaged ppl try to gain
more
- Eg. structural functional POV: tracking (admission to uni) benefits everyone by providing
schooling that fits students’ abilities. Conflict analysis POV: places priviledged students
in higher tracks and poorer students end up in lower tracks
Feminism and Gender Conflict Theory
- Gender conflict aka feminist theory: study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between the sexes, supporting feminism
- Feminism: support of social equality in opposition to patriarchy and sexism
- Harriet martineau: first woman sociologist
- Argued against slavery and for laws to protect factory workers. Fought for
women’s education policy so they can look forward to more in life than just being
a mother and wife
- Nellie McClung: pioneer of women’s rights
- Advocate for prohibition, factory laws for women, reform in CAN prisons, and
equal rep for women in politics. Part of the famous 5
Race Conflict Theory
- Race conflict theory: study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between ppl
of diff racial and ethnic cateogories
, - White ppl have many social advantages like higher incomes and better schooling than
visible minorities
- Cecil foster: a Barbados immigrant who criticized the gov’t and is a sociologist who
writes about immigrant experience and racism
- William Du Bois: first African American doctorate recipient and founded the Atlanta
Sociological Lab. Believed that ppl should not only learn about society’s problems, but
also to solve them. Speaks out about racial inequality
- Daniel Hill: has sociological writings on Black history and human rights
The Symbolic Interaction Approach
- The structural functional and social conflict approaches are macro-level orientation
(broadly focusing on social structures that shape society as a whole. Seeing the bigger
picture)
- Eg. how housing differs from rich to poor neighbourhoods and how highways transport
ppl
- Micro-level orientation: close up focus on social interaction in specific situations
- Eg. exploring city life where you watch how children invent games during recess
- Symbolic interaction approach: framework for building theory that sees society as the
product of everyday interaction of individuals
- Humans attach meaning to everything
- We create reality like what we think of others and ourselves and our experiences are
always changing
- Max Weber: emphasized understanding a particular setting from the POV of the ppl in it
- George Mead: explored how our personalities develop as a result of social experience
- Erving Goffman: dramaturgical analysis (we resemble actors on a stage as we play out
our various roles)
- George Homans and Peter Blau: social exchange analysis (interaction is guided by what
each person stands to gain and lose from others)
- Eg. ppl seek mates who offer smt (intelligent, attractive)
3 Ways to Do Sociology
Positivist Sociology
- Def: study of society based on scientific observation of social behaviour
- Discovers facts through science, a logical system that dev knowledge from direct
observation
- Aka empirical sociology bc it’s based on empirical evidence (info we can verify w our
senses)
- Research challenges what we accept as common sense
- Eg. poor ppl are more likely than rich ppl to break the law. False, bc police treat rich ppl
more leniently and let them off the hook
Concepts, Variables, and Measurement
- Concept: a mental construct that rep some part of the world in a simplified form
- Sociology: the systematic study of human society
- Society: ppl who live in a defined territory and share a culture
Seeing the General in the Particular
- Sociological perspective: seeing the general in the particular
- Look for general patterns in the behaviour of particular ppl
- The general categories that we fall into, shape our particular life experiences (eg. man,
woman)
Seeing Society in Our Everyday Lives
- The society we live in is associated with our decisions (eg. in poorer countries, women
tend to have more children)
- Social integration: categories of ppl with strong social ties (eg. women, Catholics,
wealthy ppl, married ppl) had lower suicide rates than more individualistic ppl
Seeing Sociologically: Marginality and Crisis
Living on the Edge
- The greater people’s social marginality (eg. being an outsider, or being a racial minority),
the better they are able to use the sociological perspective bc they’re more aware of how
their race puts them at disadvantages
Periods of Crisis
- Periods of rapid change/crisis makes ppl feel off balance and encourages us to use the
sociological perspective
- Eg. instead of saying, “smt is wrong w/ me bc I can’t find a job”, they would say, “the
economy has collapsed”
- They use the sociological imagination to understand society and how it affects their life
The Importance of Global Perspective
- Global perspective: the study of the larger world and our society’s place in it
- High income countries: countries w/ the highest standards of living
- We make comparisons between CAN and other nations bc:
- 1. Where we live shapes the lives we lead
- 2. Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected due to tech and
cultural diversity
- 3. What happens in the rest of the world affects life here in CAN bc of trade,
globalization, and the global economy
- 4. Many social problems that we face in CAN are far more serious elsewhere
- 5. Thinking globally helps us learn more about ourselves (eg. why are poor ppl in
loving families in India happy while poor ppl in America are angry?)
Social Changes and Sociology
,A New Industrial Economy
- Instead of labouring at home, ppl became part of a large labour force under factory
owners
- This change took ppl away from their homes, weakening the traditions that had guided
community life for centuries
The Growth of Cities
- Landowners took part in the enclosure movement (fenced off farmland, which were the
source of mills, to create grazing areas for sheep)
- This caused farmers to head to the cities to search for work
- As cities grew larger, social problems like pollution and crime increased
Political Change
- Focus shifted from ppl’s duties to God and the king to self interest which includes
personal liberty and individual rights
A New Awareness of Society
- Individualism and tech advancement made ppl more aware of their surroundings
Science and Sociology
- Auguste Comte coined the term sociology in 1883
- Positivism (Comte’s approach): a scientific approach to knowledge based on positive
facts as opposed to speculation, which means it’s based on science
- Comte’s 3 stages of society: theological, metaphysical, and scientific
Sociology and Public Policy
1. The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of common sense
- Ask ourselves whether common beliefs are true, to the extent that they’re not, and why
they’re so widely held (eg. everyone is responsible for their own lives)
2. The sociological perspective helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our
lives
- We have a say in how to play our cards, but society deals us the hand
3. The sociological perspective empowers us to be active participants in our society
- Turning private problems (eg. being out of work) into public issues (eg. a lack of good
jobs)
4. The sociological perspective helps us live in a diverse world
- Think critically about the strengths and weaknesses of all ways of life
Sociological Theory
- Theory: statement of how and why specific facts are related
- To decide which theory to use, sociologists asks, “what issues should we study?” and
“how should we connect the facts?”
- Theoretical approach: a basic image of society that guides thinking and research
- Sociologists use a road map to see which theoretical approach to use
,The Structural Functional Approach
- Def: a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and stability
- Social structure: any stable pattern of social behaviour. It gives our lives shape in
families, the workplace, etc.
- Social functions: the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a
whole
- Since traditions are breaking down, social structures must operate together to preserve
society
- This approach leads sociologists to identify various structures of society and to
investigate their functions
- Manifest functions: the recognized and intended consequences of social patterns (eg.
higher education to get jobs)
- Latent functions: the unrecognized and unintended consequences of social patterns (eg.
higher education bringing youth of similar social backgrounds to be married)
- Social dysfunction: any social pattern that can disrupt the operation of society
Social Conflict Approach
- Social conflict approach: a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of
inequality that generates conflict and change. Tries to reduce inequality
- Social analysts highlights how social structures like class, race, etc. are linked to
economic and power inequality, benefiting some ppl while hurting others
- Usually privileged ppl wanna protect their privileges and disadvantaged ppl try to gain
more
- Eg. structural functional POV: tracking (admission to uni) benefits everyone by providing
schooling that fits students’ abilities. Conflict analysis POV: places priviledged students
in higher tracks and poorer students end up in lower tracks
Feminism and Gender Conflict Theory
- Gender conflict aka feminist theory: study of society that focuses on inequality and
conflict between the sexes, supporting feminism
- Feminism: support of social equality in opposition to patriarchy and sexism
- Harriet martineau: first woman sociologist
- Argued against slavery and for laws to protect factory workers. Fought for
women’s education policy so they can look forward to more in life than just being
a mother and wife
- Nellie McClung: pioneer of women’s rights
- Advocate for prohibition, factory laws for women, reform in CAN prisons, and
equal rep for women in politics. Part of the famous 5
Race Conflict Theory
- Race conflict theory: study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between ppl
of diff racial and ethnic cateogories
, - White ppl have many social advantages like higher incomes and better schooling than
visible minorities
- Cecil foster: a Barbados immigrant who criticized the gov’t and is a sociologist who
writes about immigrant experience and racism
- William Du Bois: first African American doctorate recipient and founded the Atlanta
Sociological Lab. Believed that ppl should not only learn about society’s problems, but
also to solve them. Speaks out about racial inequality
- Daniel Hill: has sociological writings on Black history and human rights
The Symbolic Interaction Approach
- The structural functional and social conflict approaches are macro-level orientation
(broadly focusing on social structures that shape society as a whole. Seeing the bigger
picture)
- Eg. how housing differs from rich to poor neighbourhoods and how highways transport
ppl
- Micro-level orientation: close up focus on social interaction in specific situations
- Eg. exploring city life where you watch how children invent games during recess
- Symbolic interaction approach: framework for building theory that sees society as the
product of everyday interaction of individuals
- Humans attach meaning to everything
- We create reality like what we think of others and ourselves and our experiences are
always changing
- Max Weber: emphasized understanding a particular setting from the POV of the ppl in it
- George Mead: explored how our personalities develop as a result of social experience
- Erving Goffman: dramaturgical analysis (we resemble actors on a stage as we play out
our various roles)
- George Homans and Peter Blau: social exchange analysis (interaction is guided by what
each person stands to gain and lose from others)
- Eg. ppl seek mates who offer smt (intelligent, attractive)
3 Ways to Do Sociology
Positivist Sociology
- Def: study of society based on scientific observation of social behaviour
- Discovers facts through science, a logical system that dev knowledge from direct
observation
- Aka empirical sociology bc it’s based on empirical evidence (info we can verify w our
senses)
- Research challenges what we accept as common sense
- Eg. poor ppl are more likely than rich ppl to break the law. False, bc police treat rich ppl
more leniently and let them off the hook
Concepts, Variables, and Measurement
- Concept: a mental construct that rep some part of the world in a simplified form
