Sociology is the systematic study of society and social interaction. In order to carry out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop ways to apply their findings to the real world.
“religiosity” by the number of times they attend church in a week explains very little
about the religious experience. Similarly, interpretive sociology argues that
structural functionalism, with its emphasis on systems of structures and functions
tends to reduce the individual to the status of a sociological dupe, assuming pre-
assigned roles and functions without any individual agency or capacity for self-
creation.
On the other hand, critical sociology challenges the conservative tendencies of
quantitative sociology and structural functionalism. Both types of positivist analysis
represent themselves as being objective, or value-neutral, which is a problem in the
context of critical sociology’s advocacy for social justice. However, both types of
positivism also have conservative assumptions built into their basic approach to
social facts. The focus in quantitative sociology on observable facts and law-like
statements presents a historical and deterministic picture of the world that cannot
account for the underlying historical dynamics of power relationships and class or
other contradictions. One can empirically observe the trees but not the forest so to
speak. Similarly, the focus on the needs and the smooth functioning of social systems
in structural functionalism supports a conservative viewpoint because it tends to see
the functioning and dynamic equilibrium of society as good or normal, whereas
change is pathological. In Davis and Moore’s famous essay “Some Principles of
Stratification” (1944) for example, the authos argued that social inequality was
essentially “good” because it functioned to preserve the motivation of individuals to
work hard to get ahead. Critical sociology challenges both the justice and practical
consequences of social inequality.
Table 1.1. Sociological Theories or Perspectives. Different sociological perspectives
enable sociologists to view social issues through a variety of useful lenses.
Sociological Level of Focus
Paradigm Analysis
Structural How each part of society functions together to
Macro
Functionalism contribute to the whole
Symbolic
Micro One-to-one interactions and communications
Interactionism
Critical Sociology Macro How inequalities contribute to social differences and
perpetuate differences in power
Interpretive Sociology
The interpretive perspective in sociology is aligned with the hermeneutic traditions
of the humanities like literature, philosophy, and history. The focus is on
understanding or interpreting human activity in terms of the meanings that humans
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