The Sociological Quest - summary chpts 3-4
The term 'sociology' is an amalgam of the Latin and Greek word meaning reasoning about the social'. Sociologists attempt to find the quest for sociological understanding through explanation and reasoning. Whilst studying different societal groups, four aspects are addressed, their purpose to raise arguments and issues. These involve historical, cultural, structural and critical components, which indicate styles of analysis and social phenomena. Sociologists use historical evidence to explain the current shape of society, which enables them to prove certain ideologies as incorrect. The view that 'marriage is going out of fashion' is one example, which is viewed in an 'a-historical' context. The Australian Census in 1986 showed that the percentage of people married had increased from 45% in 1981 to 57.8%, showing that 'marriage' was not suffering. Sociologists use historical evidence to theorise, in doing so they develop different terminology. In the case of increasing marital failure during the early 1980's, a 'negative sanction' result occurred. Sociologists theorised that the increase in failed m
Critical analysis allows sociologists to be reflective or sceptical about the social world". A critical sensibility requires evidence to back up any argument. It also attempts to define the 'extent to which sociology can and should emulate the natural and physical sciences". Being critical means trying to "uncover and expose as many of the ambiguities, misrepresentations, distortions and falsehoods" of society. One such case is the thought that rich people believe that they are being overtaxed, and that poverty no longer exists. In fact Phillip Raskall exposed that the rich people in fact paid a lower proportion of income tax, and total wealth owned in the country by the top few percent was actually increasing. Critical components allow sociologists to extrapolate and argue a particular sociological view. Having a structural and critical sensibility aids in the analysis of society, whereas historical and cultural perspective permits an understanding of the unique organisation in or between the social world. arriages was because of society's attitude. Marital break-ups were now more socially acc
Some common words found in the essay are:
Australian Census, Hitler Structural, Latin Greek, Phillip Raskall, Britain USA, Adolf Hitler, Lorne Social, , practice cultural differences, structural critical, cultural differences observed, cultural differences, practice cultural, historical cultural, critical sensibility, critical components, sociologists historical evidence, cultural understanding, sociologists historical, people believe, rich people,
Approximate Word count = 743
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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