Sociological paradigm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sociological paradigms (also sociological perespectives or frameworks) are specific 'points of view' used by social scientists in social research. Sociological paradigms are particular paradigms that employ the sociological perspective and the sociological imagination.

Most sociologists may be categorized in a sociological paradigm. These include:

• conflict paradigm: focuses on the ability of some groups to dominate others, or resistance to such domination.
• ethnomethodology paradigm: examines how people make sense out of social life in the process of living it, as if each was a researcher engaged in enquiry.
• feminist paradigm: focuses on how male dominance of society has shaped social life.
• darwinism paradigm: (also known as the evolutionary paradigm) sees a progressive evolution in social life.
• positivism paradigm: Social Positivists believe that social processes should be studied in terms of cause and effect using the scientific method.
• structural functionalism paradigm: also known as a social systems paradigm addresses what functions various elements of the social system perform in regard to the entire system.
• symbolic interactionism paradigm: examines how shared meanings and social patterns are developed in the course of social interactions.
• rational choice theory: models social behavior as the interaction of utility maximizing individuals.

[edit] References

• Earl Babbie, 'The Practice of Social Research', 10th edition, Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Inc., ISBN 0-534-62029-9
• Michael Hughes, Carolyn J. Kroehler, James W. Vander Zanden. 'Sociology: The Core', McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-240535-XOnline chapter summary

[edit] External links

• Introduction to sociological perspective and paradigms for students by Phil Bartle