THEORY - A statement to describe, explain and predict human behavior.

LEVEL OF ANALYSIS

    CLASSICAL - early theorists, grand theory - one theory to explain everything.

    MACRO - large scale

    MICRO - small scale

HYPOTHESIS - a testable statement of the relationship between concepts

 CONCEPT - a word or symbol that represents a phenomenon or abstract idea

 VARIABLE - a way to measure a concept.

METHOD - A means to systematically collect information (data) to test a theory or hypothesis

     RELIABILITY

     VALIDITY

APPROACHES

     INDUCTIVE - information leads to a conclusion

     DEDUCTIVE - a conclusion is explained.  

ROOTS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Explaining an existing social system, society is understood as a system of interrelated parts (based on the notion of an organic system in biological sciences).

 1.  NEEDS OF A SOCIAL SYSTEM FOR SURVIVAL
     a.  interdependence of the system’s parts
     b.  existence of a ‘normal’ state - equilibrium
     c.  the way that all parts reorganize to return to ‘normal’

 2.  SHARED VALUES
 

1.  Assumptions

     1.  Society : an arena where groups fight for power, wealth, opportunities, i.e. their own interests.

     2.  Power is the core of relationships

     3.  Values and ideals are weapons to advance group goals

2.  Two Traditions

 1.  Group 1 (influenced by Karl Marx).  Social Scientists have a moral obligation to critique society, a society could no longer have grounds for social conflict

 2.  Group 2 (influenced by Max Weber).  Conflict is inevitable and permanent aspect of social life, rejects the idea that social science conclusions are value-laden.

 3.  Concerns:
     a.  social positions and power
     b.  role of ideas in creating or undermining the legitimacy of social position

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