UNIT 3. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

The discipline of sociology involves more than a distinctive point of view. The sociological perspective illuminates new facts in countless familiar situations; but linking specific observations together in a meaningful way involves another element of the discipline, theory. In the simplest terms, a theory is an explanation of the relationship between two or more specific facts. To illustrate the use of theory in sociology, recall Emile Durkheim’s study of suicide. Durkheim attempted to explain why some categories of people (males, Protestants, the wealthy, and the unmarried) have higher suicide rates than do others (females, Catholics, the poor, and the married). To do so, he linked one set of facts – suicide rates – to another set of facts – the level of social integration characteristic of these various categories of people. Through systematic comparisons, Durkheim was able to develop a theory of suicide, namely, that people with low social integration are more prone to take their own lives.

To provide another illustration, how might we explain the sociological observation that college science courses in the United States typically contain more men than women? One theoretical approach would suggest that the sciences are more attractive to males than to females; perhaps males simply have a greater innate interest in science. Another possibility is that American society encourages male to develop an interest in science while simultaneously discouraging this interest in females. A third theoretical approach might suggest that the educational system has some formal policy that limits the enrollment of women in science courses.

As this example suggests, there may be more than one theoretical explanation for any particular issue. Therefore, the ability to link facts together into a meaningful theory does not in itself mean that theory is correct. In order to evaluate contrasting theories, sociologists make use of various methods of scientific research.

As sociologists use these scientific methods to gather more and more information, they are able to confirm some theories while rejecting or modifying others. In the early decades of the 20^th century, several sociologists interested in the rapid growth of cities developed theories that linked city living to distinctive patterns of human behavior such as pronounced impersonality and even mental illness. However, research completed during subsequent decades has found that living in a large city does not necessarily result in social isolation, nor does it diminish mental health. Within any discipline therefore, theory is never static, because sociologists are continually carrying out research, sociological theory is always being refined.

Task 1. Transcribe the words and learn their pronunciation:

category, characteristic, contrasting, course, illuminate, modify, observation, policy, static, suicide, systematic, theoretical, theory

Task 2. Answer the following questions:

1. What is meant by theory?

2. What did Durkheim base his research on?

3. What is the essence of his suicide theory?

4. What sociological observation was made among college science students?

5. What did sociologists make use of to evaluate contrasting theories?

6. Is theory static or changeable within any discipline?

7. Who are more prone to science study according to the sociological observation in the United States? Do you agree with this point of view?

Task 3. Find in the text English equivalents for:

точка зрения; бесчисленный; набор фактов; а именно; более склонны; одновременно; любой частный вопрос; следовательно; для того, чтобы; извлекать пользу; подтверждать теории; внутри; последующие десятилетия; характерные модели человеческого поведения; резко выраженная безличность; проводить исследование

Task 4. Find in the text antonyms for:

indefinite, unfamiliar, meaningless, complex, to forget, similar, to be unable, repulsive, learned, to discourage, wrong, to accept a theory, late, slow, personality, to start

Task 5. Divide the text into logical parts and make up a plan of the text.

Task 6. Speak on the text.

Task 7. Translate the text in writing:

The gradual development of scientific thought in Europe was one important foundation of sociology. But something more was involved: revolutionary change in European society itself. The increasing importance of science is but one dimension of the modernization of Europe. Social change, of course, is continuous but European societies experienced particularly rapid transformations during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. In the midst of intense social change that reached crisis proportions, people were less likely to take society for granted. Indeed, as the social ground shook under their feet, they focused more and more on society, which stimulated the emergence of the sociological perspective.

Three dimensions of social change occurred in that era, each truly revolutionary in its own right. First, various technological innovations in eighteenth-century Europe led to the appearance of factories, initially in England. This new way of producing material goods soon gave rise to an industrial economy. Second, factories located within cities drew millions of people from the countryside, where agriculture had been traditional livelihood. As a result, the growth of industry was accompanied by the explosive growth of cities. Third, the development of the economy and the growth of cities were linked to changes in political ideas.

Task 8. Fill in the blanks with the following words in the necessary forms and translate the sentences into Russian:

to be influenced by, to encourage, to be interested in, to be concerned with, to make use of, to give rise to, to be prone to, to carry out research

1. People … greatly … … society since the beginning of human history.

2. Systematic studies of the society carried out by the social thinkers … … … appearing a new science – sociology.

3. They are planning … … … … on the basis of a new scientific approach.

4. The scholars … primarily … … the investigation of the sociological perspective.

5. Early sociologists … strongly … … Comte’s ideas.

6. The scholars … constant … … his ways of interpreting and analyzing new phenomena.

7. They always … scientific methods of investigation in any particular observation.

8. He … … … take part in the discussion concerning the operation of social laws within the society.

Task 9. Read and translate the following sentences taking into account different meanings of the word ‘experience’:

1. He experienced great hardships in the life, but in spite of that he continued his work in the field of sociological research.

2. They considered him to be a very experienced scholar as far as the sociological perspective was concerned.

3. His experience was great and he readily encouraged such innovative strivings.

4. They experienced true feelings of friendship to each other and this devotion lasted all their life.

5. The situation was out of being ordinary and he understood her experiences quite well.

6. Recent decades of our century experienced tremendous transformations in all spheres of the life.

7. He described the situation in such a way as if he had experienced it himself.

8. His experience in this field was quite evident and nobody doubted it.

Task 10. Memorize the following words and word-combinations:

be prone to issue (n., v.)

confirm level

develop a theory link (n., v.)

discourage make use of

distinctive point of view

encourage refine

evaluate reject

experience (n., v.) relationship

familiar simultaneously

involve through comparisons

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