Theories and Theoretical Perspectives
Sociology theories are the core and underlying strength of the discipline. They guide researchers in their studies. They also guide practitioners in their intervention strategies, and they will provide you with a basic understanding of how to see the larger social picture in your own personal life.
A theory is a set of interrelated concepts used to describe, explain, and predict how society and its parts are related to each other.
The Goggles Metaphor
- We wear goggles to help us see things more clearly. Theories are the goggles of the scientific world because the best scientific components work together to magnify, enlarge, clarify, and expand our view of the thing we are studying.
The diagram to the right shows the basic steps a sociologist might use in developing and testing a theory.
Notice that the steps are similar to those you might have used in a science class.
1. Formulate a theory
2. Develop your hypothesis or research questions
3. Conduct your research
4. Analyze and report your findings
5. Yes...my findings supports the theory OR No...I need to rework my theory.
Once a study is administered, the findings and generalizations are considered to see if they support the theory. If they do, similar studies are performed to repeat and fine-tune the process.
The more times the studies are repeated, the more accurate the findings are. If the findings and generalizations do not support the theory, the sociologist rethinks and revisits the assumptions he or she made.
A theoretical perspective is an overall approach to a theory or viewpoint on a theory.
The Umbrella Simile
Perspectives are basically like umbrellas or categories that most sociological theories can fall under.
Of course, some theories cross the boundaries of theoretical perspectives.
Three main Theoretical Perspectives have emerged in sociology:
1. Conflict Theory
2. Structural Functionalism
3. Symbolic Interactionism
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