What's up with Sociology?

The What's up with Sociology Blog is an opportunity for students to share their thoughts and feelings regarding sociological concepts and theories discussed in class. Each week, the instructor will present a thought-provoking question. The student, then, is expected to respond to this question. Remember: "Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question." ee cummings

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Blog Post/Journal Response #1

Due Tuesday, April 3rd

Please answer at least one of the following questions:

Question #1: Chapter One discusses various schools of thought in terms of the role of sociologists in society. One view asserts that sociologists should simply study society while a second view espouses the belief that sociologists should use their research to reform society. Which do you feel is the role of sociologists and why?

Question #2: Chapter One discusses the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology: symbolic interactionism, functional analysis (also called functionalism and structural functionalism) and conflict theory. First, please list the level of analysis for each theory (ie: micro or macro). Second, which of the three theories do you feel makes the most sense to you? Please explain why

15 Comments:

Blogger Mica said...

1. I feel that society should be studied, but the results should be used to help reform society. Reforming society should be the major focus of the study. Sociologists should share their knowledge and contribute to the greater good of people. It is only natural to apply what you learn. I feel if they don't try to apply it then why bother to do the research. Teaching people to become better with interacting within their societies would bring better relationships between people. People today are more focused on their own needs and not on what benefits their whole community. I have seen people grow with differnt teachings of how to interact with people. Applying this research will help people become more self-sufficient and make the world a better place to live. This type of research can also bring a lot of light to social class and stereotypes in our society today.

8:52 AM  
Blogger boobie said...

Symbolic interactionism- micro
Functional analysis- macro
Conflict theory- macro

The theory that made the most sense to me was the functional analysis. I found that this theory was pretty practical in its way of reasoning. I can relate to this theory looking at a large-scale of patterns in society because we live in such large groups today. It only makes sense to look at society as a whole when you see a pattern that is common among groups of people that don't even live near each other, and have similar ways of looking at things in society. Our values have changed and things like that impact society on a large-scale. Looking at how each part of society fits together as a whole can shed a lot of insight on how we as people impact society. This way of looking at things can also help to come up with solutions to correct some of the problems that society faces today.

9:15 AM  
Blogger Abby said...

Abby McFerran
3/31/07

1) I feel that the role of sociologist serves to both study social patterns from an objective perspective, as well as apply the findings from such studies to help those in need and correct negative social problems. I believe that the system of sociology implemented in this country is working as well as it can, given human nature and the current state of our society (which is, in effect, the result of human nature when transposed into an unnatural “civilized” setting such as our modern way of life.)
Sociology should work in a two-step process. First, data needs to be gathered and analyzed in order for sociologists to work from an educated viewpoint. This is achieved simply through Comte’s positivist theory of applying the scientific method to the social world. Statistics gathered by sociologists need to be established, patterns must be considered, and furthermore, the reasons for the statistics and patterns must be discovered, or at least hypothesized. Once sociologists are armed with this information, they can attempt to apply it to society in a helpful way if they are moved to do so. If not, at least the information can be taught to those who wish to work in social reform, most prominently social workers. Sociologists and social workers work together for social reform.
I think that it is a human tendency to want to help others, and this impulse cannot be ignored. So there are roles in sociology for both the objective, scientific type and also the altruistic, giving type of person. Like most everything, it is a self-balancing system.

2) Symbolic interactionism focuses on a micro level of analysis, meaning that it studies more small-scale patterns of social structures. Functional analysis and conflict theory both focus on the macro level - the large-scale patterns of society.
Symbolic interactionism makes the most sense on a very basic level for me. After all, the basis of any society is its individuals, and I feel that symbolic interactionism is most meaningful and directly effective to the individual. The “symbols” that we all know and base out knowledge of the world on are more important than we realize. Everything we know relates to how we classify the information we are receiving and integrating that new information into our existing mental schemas. Everything we learn relates to something else we know, creating a kind of “connect-the-dots” in our brains. I think that this human tendency is taken for granted because we do it so often. Everything we know is based on symbols. In fact, it is only the deviation from what we consider the “normal” characteristics of a certain symbol that we sit up and take notice of.
And it is the perpetuation of “normal” symbols that we support in this society that often create distress for individuals. If we don’t match up to what our perceived symbol of a “student,” “daughter,” or “good person,” we feel as though there is something wrong with us. We have these archetypes established in our society that I believe are more detrimental than helpful. But nothing can be done to change this. The establishment of symbols is purely human nature.

1:46 PM  
Blogger Steph said...

#1. I think sociologists should develop research on society and then present their information to others. I think they should have facts before they present information to the public. If you give false information, there will be a big problem with soceity. IN order to change society, everyone will have to want to change. You cannot change a person unless they are willing to change. Society is never going to be the same. People from Pennslyvania are going to be different than people in Florida. I dont think sociologists should do research in order to change society. Today there are a bunch of stereotypes and i think sociologists should find a way to make people stop stereotyping. People should act how they want to and not let someone tell them what to do.

9:28 PM  
Blogger Danelle said...

Good comments so far. I will comment on each of them individually when I return them to you either via email or in class. See you Tuesday!

10:32 PM  
Blogger fourroberts said...

christel said
1. I feel that Sociologists should study why things occure or happen in society, but they should not stop there. The research that they do should also be used to change things that are wrong in society. The Sociologist should use their findings to make a better society for people to live in. That by just studying it and not applying what they find does not help what is happening within society. When a situation is found by research that affects the good in society in a bad way it should not just be studied and say oh well this is just what happens.I feel acctions should be taken to change these problems. Just as earlier sociologist did ( Du Bois, and Jane Addams). They did not just sit back and do nothing, but they worked to make a change for the better even when people did not pay attention to them. They worked to see a change in the things they had researched.I feel that doing research and not applying what is found is a waste of time. If one turns there head they are just aiding to the wrong of society

2:27 PM  
Blogger Ali Q said...

1)I feel that the role sociologists is to study a society and use their research to help reform society. I agree with Comte that sociologists should guide social reform. Social reform can not come from just one individual. I feel that sociologists should conduct their research and present the data and facts to the society so everyone in the society with the sociologists help can try to reform their society. I feel this is the best way to use sociologists' research because it makes their research helpful to everyone in the society. And unless everyone in a society, including the sociologist,wants reform, no change will be made.

8:05 PM  
Blogger Asedoti said...

2. Each theoretical perspective is different from one another when it comes to their own level of analysis. The Functional and Conflict Theory are focused on the macro level. The macro level is defined as an examination of large scale patterns of society. The Symbolic Interactionism is focused on the micro level. The micro level is defined as an examination of small-scale patterns of society. When looking at all three theoretical perspectives I would have to say that the Symbolic Interactionism makes most sense to me. Symbolic Interactionism is defined as in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning. As I read on in the book it made more sense to me, how would we live our daily lives without Symbolic Interactionism? It would be make things in life a lot harder then it already is. Not knowing what time it is or what day it is. We would have no way of symbolically figuring out who is a stranger and who is a family member. We couldn't even symbolize ourselves. Even though there is all these negative factors when it comes to this, there would be no war, which would be wonderful because there wouldn't be innocent lives being taken. No matter what happens it will just be part of our lives to symbolize everything we come in contact with.

8:32 PM  
Blogger Nate said...

1. I believe that the role of sociologists is to study and research our society and then apply their knowledge to reform our everyday life. I don’t think that sociologists should simply do the research and then keep it to themselves. Sociologists learn and know about all the right and wrong things that we do within our society. They can use their knowledge to help our society develop and become better in so many ways. Change is good and brings so many benefits. Sociologists can bring changes in many areas such as personal well being, wealth, technology, advancement and more. Sociologists come up with many different choices and opinions on almost every topic that they research. By showing the society all of the choices and opinions, people can try new things. Also, this allows people to have more then one way to do things. It creates options for are people that contributes to our growth. So I believe that sociologists should use their research to reform society.

8:37 PM  
Blogger LGonz said...

Symbolic Interactionism is micro sociological, Functional Analysis is Macro sociological, and Conflict Theory is Macro Sociological meaning it pertains to a large portion of the surrounding society. Conflict theory may be the most controversial of the theories listed but seems to make the most sense to me. In a very competitive society we are segregated in different social classes whether we like it or not. Different people from different walks of life are competing with each other to get ahead in their life or occupation. We all meet those obstacles on the way that we must overcome and apply ourselves more. An example would be the business world, different tactics are used to make ones business successful and climb the corporate ladder. As the book states Conflict theory can be applied to different social events. They analyzed the divorce rate in the U.S, with Conflict theory ideas. It seems to make sense to me out of the three listed.

10:38 PM  
Blogger SSWiand said...

I feel that both schools of thought have a place in the sociological world. I can understand why practitioners of the basic sociological principles would want to isolate their findings, to have a protected environment in which to analyze and discuss their findings without outside influences. I can also understand why at the other end of the sociological spectrum you would have sociologists who want to use their findings in an attempt to make the world a better place. In my opinion, what is the point of researching any subject without further intent of utilizing the findings for some kind of beneficial use? With all of the problems that both our nation and our world face every day…the stereotyping, racism, fighting, class disparity, etc; would it be responsible to look the other way if you had possible solutions to building a better society? I would think not! Unfortunately, without a willingness within that society to change, none of the suggestions or solutions would matter. I believe that if only one person is positively affected by a social change, be it better working conditions, community relations or whatever it may be, wouldn’t it be worth the attempt? I feel that applying sociological findings will provide improved opportunities to help shape a better society. I feel that sociologists could have a greater sense of satisfaction knowing that there efforts were not in vain, that they made a difference in the society in which they studied.

10:40 PM  
Blogger Karisa S. said...

We all know that the way society works in our lives changes the ways we behave and act in our own lives. Though we may not know it society acts within our lives everyday. I believe that socialogists should use their research to reform society because they can find the bad things that we do in society and try to make it right. Keeping things about our society in the dark when never solve things, why would we research something if we weren't intrested in sharing it with someone in the world. I believe in making a difference in the world, and in our world we have a society that runs technology, law, healthcare, and the way we surivive and by finding the flaws in our design we have set for each on of these we can better understand them and learn how to fix them, and thats why i believe that socialogists should use their research to reform society.

1:12 AM  
Blogger robbie said...

1. A sociologist’s main goal should be to help people. In order to help society you must first understand society. The only way to do this is to study society, analyze the findings, and come up with the best analysis to help people. Society changes everyday, so this process may be an uphill climb because, there are new equations figured into why society does certain things. I believe it is almost impossible to only focus on the study, or only focus on the helping of, because if you do not apply the studies to something, why do it? Why waste the time, money, and effort to collecting all this data, if only for someone reading it in a journal. Some people need more help then others, and by doing the research, thousands, even millions of people could be helped, and influenced by this research. With all this being said, I do believe that it is almost impossible to change society. You may be able the help people cope with the changes, but impossible to change itself. As time moves on so many things change society, the economy, politics, environment, and technology. So, as all these factors change society changes. In the end society will change, even if people are not ready for it to.

1:30 AM  
Blogger jessica said...

1.I believe that the best way to find out about socity is to live in it and live day to day with the group of people that are being looked at. I enjoy reading about the sociological who lived, ate and slept with the homeless. That is the only way that people interested in socity can really know the truth about certin socity.There are to many stereotpyes without the facts to back it up.. If I were a sociologist I would rather live in someones shoes to find out the reasons why people in certian socity do things, these findings would make me understand(useing Weder's belief, verstehen)and aloud me not to judge without knowing facts as well as others.

6:38 AM  
Blogger Rebecca said...

1. I believe that research should be used to help reform society. I agree with other peoples blogs, why do the research if we are not going to use it to better our own. Research helps people better understand other peoples society in the world. Understanding that some societies would rather no change do to certain beliefs. On the other hand allows us to learn of the weaknesses of our society to better it. With learning and teaching people of other societies it also allows us to reflect and appreciate what we have.

4:02 PM  

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