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This image shows seven figures interpreting the symbol that is written on the floor. Each figure thinks it is something different, such as the infinity symbol, a pretzel, a drawing of DNA, or the number eight. It is being used to show how each of us interprets things differently.

People can live through similar experiences or view the same event and have a very different outlook on what they lived through or saw. People’s perspectives are shaped by their own unique experiences and influences and this provides the lens through which they understand and interpret the world around them. Sociologists purposefully use a variety of theories and methodologies to examine social issues. These different viewpoints provide in-depth and varied perspectives that help us understand human behaviour.

Action.

ACTION

Different schools of thought, or theories, provide a different way of looking at a topic or issue. 


Theory: Structural Functionalism.

Definition: 

A structural functionalist looks at how all structures or institutions in society work together to meet the needs of society. Examples of structures/institutions include: education/schools, health care/hospitals, family, law/courts, economics/banks, and religion/churches. Society functions when there is an equilibrium between social institutions and the people in society.  People have roles they play that help balance that equilibrium.  Institutions and people are interconnected; so when something shifts, either in the institutions or in the people, the other has to change or compensate to restore the equilibrium. 

 

Theory: Conflict Theory.

Definition: 

A conflict theorist examines two groups in society:  those who have power and those who don’t. The ones in a position of power are few in number; but they have the wealth, prestige, and voice to maintain their status.  The ones without power are much larger in number; but they are marginalized or without the wealth, prestige, and voice to make change. Society is in constant tension about this imbalance in power.

 

Theory: Feminist Theory.

Definition: 

Feminist theorists focus on the experience of gender in society. They examine roles women have in society and how systems within society have created the inequalities that exist between men and women.  They also examine the changing forms and meanings of these roles, especially as they relate to gender, family, and sexuality.  

 

Theory: Symbolic Interaction.

Definition: 

Symbolic interactionists concentrate their study on individuals within society and how individuals construct meaning to shape who they are and how they act. They examine the elements within an individual’s environment that help form an individual’s sense of self and sense of how they fit into the world around them.

 

Theoretical Perspectives: Going Deeper

Use the learning object below to learn more about the different sociological theories.

TheoryChart

Long Description

 

Methods of Conducting Research

Sociologists rely on a number of methodologies to help them conduct their research. Just like examining an issue from multiple perspectives reveals a variety of different kinds of information, so too does the use of multiple methods of research. Each approach or method provides a different kind of information about a topic. Here is a chart which summarizes the most common research methods sociologists use.

 

Description

Benefits

Limitations

Surveys

Once a research question is created, a researcher determines who would be best to survey for the topic. This group of people is known as the sample population. Questions are then designed with both the sample population and the research question in mind to generate data about the topic.

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  • Can be distributed to a large sample of people.

  • Quick and cost effective.

  • Easy to collate and analyze.

  • Information is limited to the questions that were asked.

  • Accuracy of responses cannot be guaranteed.

Case Studies

Case studies are examples of situations, or scenarios, that have been written up by other researchers in their studies. They represent one single situation within a given topic. Researchers use case studies to provide an in-depth look at one single situation.

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  • Can provide an in-depth look at one single situation.

  • Can be a good starting point for further investigation.

  • On their own, case studies do not provide enough variety to form conclusions about a topic. They need to be combined with other methods.

Observations

The researcher conducts his or her study by observing and recording human behaviour in settings relative to the research question. Sometimes, the researcher becomes a participant observer and interacts with groups or individuals at the same time as taking notes for his or her study.  

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  • Provides first-hand information about the topic.

  • If the researcher participates, he or she gains valuable detailed information that cannot be gathered through other methods.

  • The researcher can be biased in what he or she records as important observations.

  • If the researcher participates, the group may act differently because of his or her presence so that the data gathered might no longer be accurate.

Secondary Analysis of Results

Researchers select data sets that were generated by someone else in their research and analyze them according to their own research question. Consulting Statistics Canada is a good example of using secondary statistical data.

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  • Quick access.

  • Can consult a wide range of information.

  • Can access information sets you likely could not create on your own.

  • Ensuring the data sets are valid and reliable is important before relying on them for your own analysis.

Content Analysis

Analysis of words and images from documents, film, art, music, and other cultural products and media.

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  • In-depth insights into sometimes complex questions.

  • Can be time-consuming to find and analyze content.

  • Researcher may bring own subjective bias to the selection of content and the ways in which they are being analyzed.

Focus Groups

A researcher pulls together a group of people who are related to the topic and the research question and guides the focus group through a series of questions designed to generate information based on the research question.

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  • Cost-effective and quick.

  • Dynamic; the researcher can flow with the direction of the group to expand or reframe the type of information generated.

  • Dependent on the dynamics of the group interaction and compliance to the task.

  • Requires a skilled facilitator or moderator of the group.

  • Data can be more difficult to collate and analyze for patterns and trends.

There are ethical considerations to consider when conducting research. Review these ethical considerations each time you are designing or conducting research in the social sciences.

Read this article, Chapter 3: Ethics: How to Conduct Research in an Ethical Way from EduGains (Original article)

If you want to view any links in this pdf, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page. (View the original article.)

Consolidation

CONSOLIDATION

This is the dropbox icon. Prominent Sociologists

Choose one of the sociologists introduced in this activity (Durkheim, Marx, Smith, Mead). Use this chart, or something similar, to record your thinking.

You will need to conduct further research to complete the chart fully and with depth.  Remember what you learned in Unit 1 about how to record, organize, analyze, and cite the sources that you have used.

Task:

  • Identify the sociologist and which theory is associated with this sociologist.
  • Outline what his or her significant contribution to sociology is. If it helps, try to answer the questions: Why do we remember and study this person? What was his or her significant contribution to sociological study?
  • Identify one additional sociologist whom we have studied who is similar and explain what he or she might have in common in regard to his or her sociological thought. Provide at least two reasons.
  • Identify one additional sociologist we have studied who is different in his or her sociological thought. Clearly explain how his or her ideas are different providing at least two specific reasons.
  • Lastly, identify a prominent modern social theorist who is working to advance this sociological perspective. How specifically does his or her current thinking relate directly back to the original sociologist? What new insight or focus does he or she add to this perspective?

Document all sources using APA style and provide a reference page for your work.

Submit Your Work
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