SOC221H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Social Theory, Abstract Theory, Qualitative Research
Document Summary
Chapter 2- theory & social research: social theories explain recurring patterns, not unique or 1-time events, social theories are explanation for aggregates, not particular individuals. Aggregates are collections of many individuals, cases or other units (businesses, schools, families, clubs: social theories state a probability, chance, or tendency for events to occur, rather than stating that 1 event must absolutely follow another. Social theory: a system of interconnected abstractions/ideas that condenses & organizes knowledge about the social world. It is a compact way to think of the social world. The classical social theorists (marx, weber, durkheim) played an important role in generating innovative ideas about the workings of social life in particular. They developed original theories about how society was organized & functioned that laid the foundation for subsequent generations of social thinkers. Great thinkers, in contrast, are often associated w/ a particular issue (often political).
