Sociology is a discipline that falls under the study of social sciences. Sociology helps you to understand social behavior and society systematically. We tend to learn about social behavior or society by studying aspects like origin, organization, development, network, institution, and so on.
Additionally, the term sociology is related to secularization, social stratification, sexuality, law, religion, social mobility, social class, deviance, and so on.
Sociology expands its reach into other fields like health, education, medical, military, penal institutions, and the internet. It aims to bring together information from these disciplines. Social science researchers carry out researches with the help of qualitative and quantitative methods.
On top of that, the scientific methods in the arena of social science researches are expanding at a continuous pace. Amidst the 20th century, linguistics, along with culture, has a significant impact on the interpretative, hermeneutic, and philosophic approaches.
Nevertheless, new techniques continue to emerge in the 21st century that encompasses agent-based modeling and social network analysis.
These modern techniques are accurate at the mathematical, analytical, and computation levels. Social science researches cover fields like social research, market research, and statistical fields.
Theories of sociology like classical theory, conflict theory, structuralism, and functionalism are fundamental to understanding the subject in-depth. Sociology assignments help deal studies individual behavior in relation to social structure, macro-level, and macro-level systems.
What are the theories you should cover under sociology homework help?
Let’s take a look at some of the important theories of sociology:
Classical theory
Sociology is a field of study that comprises numerous theories and concepts. Classical theory- the first theory in the context of sociology also serves as a base for other theories. However, due to the paradoxical nature of classical social theory, the field of study is called multi-paradigmatic.
Randall Collins, one of the renowned sociologists, has conducted several surveys to learn about sociological theories.
During his survey, Collins successfully applies four conventional sociological theories like conflict, interactionism, utilitarianism, and symbolism. However, contemporary theories like Functionalism theory and Conflict theory study the social structure.
Pragmatist theories are associated with social interaction, while symbolic interactionism aims to study the structural system.
Utilitarianism studies the social exchange or the rational preferences of an individual. However, this discipline is related to economics.
Utilitarianism is an important theory of sociology. Similarly, the Social Darwinism theory is another classical theory.
Darwinism theory applies to people living in all communities or societies. Besides, Darwin’s theory brings the individual’s biological evaluation to the fore. The theory of Darwin tends to support the classic functionalism theory.
Functionalism
Functionalism, one of the pivotal theories of sociology, aims to study the “social structure.” Apart from sociology, this theory is also applicable in anthropology. The social structure mainly deals with social organization.
As per classical sociologists, functionalism is an essential part of sociology. Besides, functionalism revolves around the essential elements like norms and institutions that function to enhance societies.
Functionalism deals with anthropological concepts that have been propounded by theorists like Marcel Mauss, Bronislaw, Radcliffe-Brown, and Malinowski. Radcliffe-Brown introduced the term ‘structural’ for specific purposes.
According to functionalism theory, the promotion of solidarity can overcome challenges like social disorganization and social complexities.
conflict theory
While the functionalism theory stresses the “operation of cohesive systems,” the conflict theory contradicts this idea. Conflict theory criticizes the socio-political system and its norms and usually focuses on the distinction between social groups.
Structuralism
Durkheim brought the theory of structuralism to the fore. However, the theory of structuralism is construed by two European anthropologists. According to these theorists, the principle of ‘structure’ doesn’t define a social structure, but it is a known connotation of systems.
These systems aim to acquire knowledge related to human culture. Additionally, the theory of structuralism comprises four vital beliefs. These are as follows:
- the concept of structure aims to study the entire surrounding of an individual or society
- it works on the belief that” every system has an independent structure, which is different from the rest.”
- Structuralists believe that structural theories are more encouraging as they deal with the coexistent rather than the modifications.
- Eventually, experts believe that “structural laws” are genuine-owing to which they can define the appearance and surfaces of things.