SOAN 2111 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Bubonic Plague, Symbolic Interactionism, Verstehen

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2111
• Professor: Linda Hunter

Document Summary

Logic of explanation, ability to predict environments. Needs determinism (cause-effect relations) and empiricism (experience/knowledge about the world is grounded by what we learn from our sense perceptions) Meaning of such info has to be interpreted. Interpretive theory focuses on the meanings people attach to their social worlds. Human practice/activity, human action becomes meaningful in terms of social rules, sociological variables are defined by means of human language. Verstehen action of interpreting/understanding a culture by studying it. Society is ongoing interaction; reality is socially constructed meanings. Conducts research by developing a qualitative account of the subjective sense people make of their world; researcher is a participant. Critical theory focuses on need for social change. Concept of authority and power relations and power dynamics between individuals in society. Too political, gives up claim of objectivity. Society is patterns of inequality; reality is that some dominate others. Research is a strategy to bring about desired change; researcher is an activist.