The second week saw a few more new students in the classroom and a more relaxed session, given everyone’s familiarity with the environment. Group dynamics at micro-level, eh? We opened with a PowerPoint presentation:
Introducing Social
Theorists
This was accompanied by a printout of the slides allowing us to take notes whilst the lecturer talked around each point. Last week’s pre-reading, the first chapter of Anthony Giddens’ Sociology: chapter 1 – What is Sociology?, provided a firm platform for tonight’s lesson; book link, below.
The social perspective – sociological imagination, sociology and common sense, sociology and science, explained below.
Definition: The Sociological Perspective – “Sociology is the study of human society and social interactions.” It’s scientific in that it uses theories.
Sociological imagination – C.Wright Mills (Wiki link) coined the term, referring to “…the vivid awareness of the relationship between private experience and the wider society.” He wrote the classic “Sociological Imagination” which joined the two theories put forward by Marx and Weber stating that when we look at peoples lives we must consider 2 areas, their biography as well as their history.
Click on the picture to link to the Amazon web site, to take a 'Look Inside' and read more.
Sociology and Common
Sense – common sense assumptions are mostly made on limited observations and
their premises are seldom examined. Sociology seeks to:Use a broad range of carefully selected observations; and
Theoretically understand and explain those observations.
i.e. it seeks to use theories to check out known hypothesis,
to avoid making assumptions.
Sociology and Science – Science is “…a body of systematically arranged knowledge that shows the operation of general laws.” As a science, Sociology employs the scientific method; using hypothesis.
The scientific method – (i) review literature > (ii) formulate hypothesis > (iii) choose research design > (iv) gather data > (v) analyse data.
Sociology and the social sciences – relates to cultural anthropology, considering psychology, economics, history, political science and social work.
The development of sociology – emerged as a separate discipline in the 18th century, a time of great social upheaval due largely to (i) the French Revolution and (ii) the Industrial Revolution. It was shaped by the initial work of several early Sociologists:
Auguste Comte (1798-1857) – coined the term Sociology and set out
to develop the “Science of man” based
on empirical observation. Empirical – a philosophy of knowledge derived from
experiment and observation. Comte focused on 2 aspects:
Social statics – forces that create order and stability.
Social dynamics – forces that contribute to social change.
Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) – One of earliest analysis of culture
and life in the USA
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) – wrote the first sociological text, “Principles of Sociology” and proposed a
doctrine called Social Darwinism –
‘survival of the fittest’ – where people cannot compete because they’re poorly
adapted to an environment and hence, inferior in skills.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) – the father of ‘Conflict Theory’; human history in continual conflict between
social classes, the Bourgeoiseie
(capitalists) – owners of the means of production versus the Proletariat – the workers. He predicted
revolution > the 1st socialist state > the first communist
society.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) – Moved sociology into the realm of empirical
science. Most well known empirical study, entitled “Suicide” – the social
causes of suicide. The founder of Functionalist
Theory.
Max Weber (1864-1920) – Much critique and clarification of Marx’s
work. Challenged Marx’s ideas on role of religion in society in his work “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit ofCapitalism.” Also interested in bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in society.
Development of
Sociology in the USA –
began in University
of Chicago Columbia and Harvard Universities
Theoretical perspectives in sociology: " Introduction to the three major theories in sociology"
"Stereotypes and predjuces"
Theoretical perspectives – Functionalism – society as a system of highly integrated parts working together harmoniously; a living organism. Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole.
Theoretical perspectives – Conflict Theory – grounded in the work of Karl Marx. Conflicting interest groups vying for power and privilege. Dynamic results of constant social change – a normal state of affairs. Concentrates on inequality and differential distribution of power and wealth.
Theoretical perspectives – The Interactionist Perspective – how individuals make sense of and interpret the world around them. Focusses on small groups and their micro-order. Given rise to the following approaches:
Symbolic
Interactionism – George Herbert Mead
Ethnomethodology
– Harold GarfinkelDramaturgy – Erving Goffman
Comparing Theoretical
Perspectives
A good slide that easily allowed us to compare the perspectives:
Structural Functionalism – macro level
Various parts of society are interdependent.
Social systems are highly stable.
Social life governed by consensus and cooperation.
Focus on functional and dysfunction aspects of society.
Conflict Theory – macro level
Society accommodates between competing interest groups.
Society unstable and prone to change.
Social life is conflict laden.
Focus on how social inequalities produce conflict.
Focus on who benefits from social arrangements.
Interactionist – micro level
Actions have symbolic meanings and these meanings can vary.
Focus on how people make sense of their world.
Group Exercise
The class was split into groups of 3 or 4 students and each
group was given a recent press article to study. The article was to be
considered and then discussed from the opposite perspective from which we felt
it had been written. Findings to be documented then discussed with the class. Unfortunately, this exercise ran over time and we concluded to complete the
work in our spare time as homework prior to the next lesson.
My groups article was titled “Research for the Rich, Rules for the Poor” by Tom Clark, from the Opinion section of The Guardian newspaper.
Facts stated:
Only 2 groups of workers were discussed; the top 1% tax payers and the bottom 1% earners.
Top 1% earners to have 5% reduction in amount of tax they pay in 2011.
Bottom 1% earners (most on sub 16hr working weeks) will lose Working Tax Credits)
Research was only performed on 1 group, the top 1% i.e. effects on the other 99% working tax payers were not studied.
The plans were well publicized and the top 1% group knew changes were coming.
As they knew change was coming they moved their liquid cash to the following year to gain maximum benefit from the cuts. Hence the figures used for the research year were not the norm.
The article portrays a Capitalist society.
Argument Against Article:
The top 1% of earners are self made successful business people who've taken risks and worked hard to achieve their positions. As such, why should they have to pay more tax than anyone else?
The money (paying less tax) they will save could be re-invested in their companies, thereby creating more jobs for the bottom earners.
By saving money (paying less tax) they will have more to invest and spend, thereby bouying up the UK economy.
Political buy-in. By reducing the top 1% groups tax the Chancellor will keep the businessmen 'on side', ensuring their ongoing financial and political support.
To-Do List
Another list. Even though the course is just two hours a
week, it seems to come around so quickly! Time management is key. So,
Copy and file notes.
File handouts.
Review notes and handouts, and blog my thoughts.
Complete exercise.
Pre-reading ahead of
session 3:
Sociology, Chapter 2, Asking and Answering Sociological Questions,
Anthony Giddens.
Teamroom Trade – Laud Humphries (1970).
Human subjects and ethical problems.
Sociological questions.
Is sociology scientific?
The research process.
Understanding cause and effect.
Causation and correlation.
Research methods.
Ethnography.
Surveys.
Experiments.
Biographical research.
Comparative research.
Historical analysis.
Comparitive-historical research.
Sociological research in the real world.
Restating the obvious.
The influence of sociology.
Summary.
Further reading.
Internet links.
Summary
After completing my second class and the associated To Do list, I can some up the course so far as being extremely thought provoking – I’m looking at news and media articles in a new light, watching family, friendship and work group dynamics from a sociological standpoint and essentially taking a different view on events and actions in my world. That’s quite a claim after just a few hours tuition and reading, but it’s entirely true. I’m a busy bee these days, focussing on my study requirements as well as my full time job, my family commitments and my leisure time. At times, I feel a little overwhelmed but the workloads are manageable and I’m putting my lethargy down to my lack of working the old grey matter for quite some time. Sociology is a long way from my specialism, Computing, but the challenge is rewarding and I’m learning new skills each week, meeting new people and interacting positively with the class. It’s all very enjoyable.
Stay tuned…
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