summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
,summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
, summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
C1. Sociology theories applied to the design of social media
Individual perspective: type of explanation of human behavior which focuses on individual causes
Sociologists → consider social context (social environment in which people are embedded)
→ sociological imagination (also sociological perspective) type of explanation of human behavior
which focuses on social causes as opposed to individual causes (e.g. country)
- Social contexts change → study human consequences
- Social perspective differs from individual
(1)focus on social causes
(2)considers collective outcomes → social phenomenon (collective human
behavior)
→ The Sociological Perspective Sociology is the scientific study of social phenomena. This means
that, if you want to give a sociological explanation of human behavior, you need to consider the
influence of social contexts and study the resulting collective human behavior
Relations individual and sociological perspective
- Supplements (provide a more comprehensive explanation of human behavior
together)
- Alternative (one matters and the other does not)
- Proximate (factors that are close to the phenomena to be explained, individual) and
ultimate causes (factors that underlie proximate causes, social contexts)
, summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
Scales/levels of social contexts
1. Micro level: the level at which individuals operate (not a social context)
2. Meso level: social contexts at the intermediate level (e.g. families, neighborhoods,
schools, organizations)
3. Macro level: social contexts that are broader than meso level units (e.g. nations,
groups of nations, continents)
Social problem (also public issue) is one that:
1. goes beyond the personal troubles of the individual (it affects many people);
2. is an issue about which many people are concerned (it is in conflict with certain
values)
→ what is considered a social problem changes over time
→ can involve large segments of society or more locally concentrated
Personal trouble: problem related to the personal life of an individual
Core aims of sociology
1. Describe social phenomena scientifically
2. Explain social phenomena theoretically
3. Apply their knowledge → returns to normative
domain
1. Coming up with predictions
2. Develop and evaluate social interventions
(social policy measure) → subject to scientific insights and empirical work and targeted
towards reducing social problems
Social problems vs social phenomena
- Social problems: normative → desirable goals or values are threatened, people want to
solve this problem and politicians, policy makers and organizations offer various measures
and interventions to do so
- Social phenomena: scientific phenomenon of interest → understanding contributes to
understanding and solving social problems
Societal relevance: relevance of sociological work for the understanding of social problems
→ does not imply sociologists should pursue normative statements or engage in social activism,
sociology is a science
,summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
, summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
C1. Sociology theories applied to the design of social media
Individual perspective: type of explanation of human behavior which focuses on individual causes
Sociologists → consider social context (social environment in which people are embedded)
→ sociological imagination (also sociological perspective) type of explanation of human behavior
which focuses on social causes as opposed to individual causes (e.g. country)
- Social contexts change → study human consequences
- Social perspective differs from individual
(1)focus on social causes
(2)considers collective outcomes → social phenomenon (collective human
behavior)
→ The Sociological Perspective Sociology is the scientific study of social phenomena. This means
that, if you want to give a sociological explanation of human behavior, you need to consider the
influence of social contexts and study the resulting collective human behavior
Relations individual and sociological perspective
- Supplements (provide a more comprehensive explanation of human behavior
together)
- Alternative (one matters and the other does not)
- Proximate (factors that are close to the phenomena to be explained, individual) and
ultimate causes (factors that underlie proximate causes, social contexts)
, summary introduction to sociology culture structure and inequality tubergen 97809915353850
Scales/levels of social contexts
1. Micro level: the level at which individuals operate (not a social context)
2. Meso level: social contexts at the intermediate level (e.g. families, neighborhoods,
schools, organizations)
3. Macro level: social contexts that are broader than meso level units (e.g. nations,
groups of nations, continents)
Social problem (also public issue) is one that:
1. goes beyond the personal troubles of the individual (it affects many people);
2. is an issue about which many people are concerned (it is in conflict with certain
values)
→ what is considered a social problem changes over time
→ can involve large segments of society or more locally concentrated
Personal trouble: problem related to the personal life of an individual
Core aims of sociology
1. Describe social phenomena scientifically
2. Explain social phenomena theoretically
3. Apply their knowledge → returns to normative
domain
1. Coming up with predictions
2. Develop and evaluate social interventions
(social policy measure) → subject to scientific insights and empirical work and targeted
towards reducing social problems
Social problems vs social phenomena
- Social problems: normative → desirable goals or values are threatened, people want to
solve this problem and politicians, policy makers and organizations offer various measures
and interventions to do so
- Social phenomena: scientific phenomenon of interest → understanding contributes to
understanding and solving social problems
Societal relevance: relevance of sociological work for the understanding of social problems
→ does not imply sociologists should pursue normative statements or engage in social activism,
sociology is a science
