sociological theory

(noun)

A theory is a statement as to how and why particular facts are related. In sociology, sociological perspectives, theories, or paradigms are complex theoretical and methodological frameworks, used to analyze and explain objects of social study, and facilitate organizing sociological knowledge.

Related Terms

Examples of sociological theory in the following topics:

  • Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    • Sociological theory is developed at multiple levels, ranging from grand theory to highly contextualized and specific micro-range theories.
    • There are many middle-range and micro-range theories in sociology.
    • An example of a sociological theory comes from the work of Robert Putnam.
    • This element of Putnam's theory clearly illustrates the basic purpose of sociological theory.
    • In short, Putnam's theory clearly encapsulates the key ideas of a sociological theory.

  • Introduction

    • An example of a sociological theory is the work of Robert Putnam on the decline of civic engagement.
    • In short, Putnam's theory clearly encapsulates the key ideas of a sociological theory.
    • Sociological theory is developed at multiple levels, ranging from grand theory to highly contextualized and specific micro-range theories.
    • There are many middle-range and micro-range theories in sociology.
    • As noted above, there are many theories in sociology.

  • Sociology Today

    • Although sociology emerged from Comte's vision of a discipline that would subsume all other areas of scientific inquiry, that was the future of sociology.
    • Presently, sociological theories lack a single overarching foundation, and there is little consensus about what such a framework should consist of.
    • In the humanistic parts of the discipline, these paradigms are referred to as social theory, often shared with the humanities.
    • The discipline's dominant scientifically-oriented areas generally focus on a different set of theoretical perspectives, generally referred to as sociological theory.
    • Analytical sociology is an ongoing effort to systematize many of these middle-range theories.

  • Conflict Theory

    • Provide an overview of conflict theory, including its most prominent theorists.

  • Political Opportunity Theory

    • Describe how and why political opportunities are important to social movements according to political opportunity theory.

  • New Social Movement theories

  • Studying Sociology

    • Sociological studies range from the analysis of conversations to the development of theories in order to understand how the world works.
    • Sociology is the study of human social life.
    • Sociology has many sub-sections of study, ranging from the analysis of conversations to the development of theories to try to understand how the entire world works.
    • Sociology is a broad discipline in terms of both methodology and subject matter.
    • Identify ways in which sociology is applied in the real world

  • Sociology Today

    • Although sociology emerged from Comte's vision of a discipline that would subsume all other areas of scientific inquiry, that was not to be the future of sociology.
    • Far from replacing the other sciences, sociology has taken its place as a particular perspective for investigating human social life.
    • In the past, sociological research focused on the organization of complex, industrial societies and their influence on individuals.
    • In response, many sociology departments around the world are now encouraging multi-cultural research.
    • The next two chapters in this book will introduce the reader to more extensive discussions of the methods and theory employed in sociology.

  • Economic Sociology

    • Economic sociology is the study of the social causes and social effects of various economic phenomena.
    • Economic sociology is the study of the social causes and social effects of various economic phenomena.
    • Influential figures in modern economic sociology include Fred L.
    • In some cases, contemporary economic sociology borrows mathematical tools and economic theories such as utility maximization and game theory.
    • Examine the two periods of economic sociology - classical and contemporary - and the difference between economic sociology and socioeconomics

  • The Sociological Approach

    • The sociological approach goes beyond everyday common sense.
    • This scientific approach is what differentiates sociological knowledge from common sense.
    • With induction, sociologists gather data on the ground and formulate theories about what they find.
    • These theories are then tested by using the scientific method in order to assess the theory's validity.
    • Deduction is the act of evaluating their theories in light of new data.