33 terms in 3.7
Sociological theory and methods
Parsons' AGIL identifies four functional requirements of social systems: Adaptation (relating to environment), Goal-atta
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Merton distinguished manifest functions (intended, recognised consequences of social practice) from latent functions (un
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Marx's concept that modes of production (feudalism, capitalism) are structured by forces of production (technology, labo
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Althusser distinguished repressive state apparatuses (RSAs: police, military, prisons — use force) from ideological stat
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Giddens' theory that structure and agency are dually constitutive: social structures shape actions, but human agency rep
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Beck argues late modernity creates 'risk society': manufactured risks (environmental, technological) replace natural ris
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Lyotard defines postmodernity as disbelief in 'metanarratives' (grand theories claiming universal truth): Enlightenment
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Mead's theory that self is constructed through interaction: the 'I' is spontaneous, creative self; the 'Me' is self as u
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Blumer identified three premises: (1) people act based on meanings, (2) meanings arise from interaction, (3) meanings ar
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Goffman analysed social interaction as theatrical performance: people manage impressions (present 'front' self), maintai
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Phenomenology studies how people construct meaningful reality through everyday knowledge. Schutz argued people use pract
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel) studies methods people use to make social world orderly. Breaching experiments deliberately
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Central debate: are people shaped by social structures (determinism) or do they have freedom to act independently (volun
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Micro sociology studies small-scale interaction (face-to-face); macro sociology studies large-scale structures (organisa
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Consensus perspective assumes society is based on shared values and agreement; conflict perspective assumes society is b
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Modernity: belief in progress, grand narratives, rationality, stable identities, meta-narratives. Postmodernity: sceptic
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
A macro structural theory that views society as an integrated system where each institution serves essential functions t
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
A conflict theory proposing that society is divided into classes based on control of economic production (base). The sup
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Durkheim's concept describing the shared beliefs, values, and moral norms that bind members of a society together and cr
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Discrimination built into organisations' structures, policies, and practices that disadvantage ethnic minorities regardl
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Liberal feminism seeks equality within existing systems through legal and political reform, equal opportunities, and dis
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Marxist feminism argues women's oppression is rooted in capitalism: women's unpaid domestic labour serves capitalists, a
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Radical feminism argues women's oppression is fundamental and caused by patriarchy (male dominance in all institutions);
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Postmodern/difference feminism rejects universal 'woman' category, emphasising diversity of women's experiences across c
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Theoretical approach (Mead, Blumer, Goffman) focusing on how individuals create meaning through interaction, self develo
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Erving Goffman used theatrical metaphor to analyse interaction: people perform identities in different settings (front s
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Max Weber's sociological approach emphasising verstehen (understanding) social action from actors' perspectives and iden
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Central sociological debate: do social structures (systems, institutions, inequality) determine behaviour (structuralism
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Anthony Giddens' theory that structure and agency are interdependent: structures enable and constrain action, but action
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Two major theoretical approaches: consensus theories (functionalism) emphasise shared values holding society together; c
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Modernity (industrial, rational, unified) vs postmodernity (fragmented, plural, anti-foundational): contrasting characte
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Debate about whether sociology can/should be objective: positivists argue for value-free science; interpretivists argue
Theory and methods
Sociological theory and methods
Weber's concept that modern society increasingly emphasises instrumental rationality (efficiency, calculation), replacin
Theory and methods